Influence of morphology of highly ordered mesoporous carbon replica on electrochemical properties of air electrodes with Pt-Ru electrocatalyst/carbon replica support in nonaqueous electrolyte solution

Abstract

Electrochemical properties of lithium air battery (LAB) cells incorporating highly ordered mesoporous carbon replica (CR) support materials were examined in nonaqueous electrolyte solution of 1 mol/l LiTFSA/TEGDME. The CR support was prepared with pore sizes of 10, 40, and 100 nm. The cycle properties of the LAB cells with the CR support was improved by using Pt-Ru electroctalyst. As a result, the LAB cells with Pt-Ru electrocatalyst/CR (pore size: 10 nm) exhibited the highest performance of the first discharge capacity of 1000 mAh/g and capacity retention of about 50% at 10th cycle. Moreover, different growth behavior of the discharge product was observed as a consequence of the pore size of the CR support.