Perovskite-Type LaSrMnO Electrocatalyst with Uniform Porous Structure for an Efficient Li-O2 Battery Cathode

Perovskite is an excellent candidate as low cost catalyst for Li-O2 cells. However, the limited porosity, which impedes molecular transport, and the inherent low electronic conductivity are the main barriers toward production of high-performance electrodes. Here, we designed a hierarchical porous flexible architecture by coating thin mesoporous yet crystalline LaSrMnO layers throughout a graphene foam to form graphene/meso-LaSrMnO sandwich-like nanosheets. In this well-designed system, the macropore between nanosheets facilitates O2 and Li(+) diffusion, the mesopore provides large surface area for electrolyte immersion and discharge products deposition, the perovskite phase catalyst decreases reactive overpotential, and the graphene serves as conductive network for electrons transport. When used as a freestanding electrode of Li-O2 cell, it shows high specific capacity, superior rate capability, and cyclic stability. Combination of mesoporous perovskites with conductive graphene networks represents an effective strategy for developing efficient electrodes in various energy storage systems.