Electrocatalytic performances of g-C3N4-LaNiO3 composite as bi-functional catalysts for lithium-oxygen batteries

A low cost and non-precious metal composite material g-C3N4-LaNiO3 (CNL) was synthesized as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for the air electrode of lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries. The composition strategy changed the electron structure of LaNiO3 and g-C3N4, ensures high Ni(3+)/Ni(2+) ratio and more absorbed hydroxyl on the surface of CNL that can promote the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The composite catalyst presents higher activities than the individual components g-C3N4 and LaNiO3 for both ORR and OER. In non-aqueous Li-O2 batteries, CNL shows higher capacity, lower overpotentials and better cycling stability than XC-72 carbon and LaNiO3 catalysts. Our results suggest that CNL composite is a promising cathode catalyst for Li-O2 batteries.