Single-Atom-Mediated Spinel Octahedral Structures for Elevated Performances of Li-Oxygen Batteries

Li-oxygen batteries have attracted much attention due to its ultra-high theoretical specific capacity, but the discharge product Li₂ O₂ is easy to accumulate, leading to low battery stability. Here, we demonstrate a series of high-efficiency cathode catalysts of Co₃ O₄ loaded with single-atomic metals (M=Ru, Pd, Pt, Au, Ir). The single-atomic metal could substitute the central Co atom in the octahedral coordination structure and maintain the structural stability; benefiting from the electron promoter effect, rendering more highly active Co³⁺ exposed, providing rich nucleation sites for Li₂ O₂ deposition. And the loaded M atoms could separate the active Co³⁺ centers, thereby regulating the dispersion of Li₂ O₂ to obtained a sheet-like morphology, which could facilitate its decomposition in the subsequent charge cycle. Our work found that the single atoms could effectively modulate the active metal oxide with which it is coordinated, thus collectively boosting the catalytic performance.