Effect of AB-RuO2/MnO2 Bifunctional Electrocatalyst on the Performance of Li-O2 Batteries

Li-O-2 batteries have attracted significant attention due to their ultra-high energy density, but the low oxygen electrode reaction rate and sluggish kinetics limit their application. Designing an efficient ORR/OER bifunctional electrocatalyst is key to addressing this issue. This study constructed an AB-RuO2/MnO2 composite cathode via a hydrothermal method, which combines bifunctional catalytic activity with conductivity, using carbon paper as the substrate. Through characterization tests, electrochemical analysis, and microscopic mechanism simulations, the preparation process of this cathode material, its impact on Li-O-2 battery performance, and its microscopic catalytic activity were investigated. Experimental results show that compared to single-component AB-MnO2 and AB-RuO2 composite cathodes, the AB-RuO2/MnO2 composite cathode exhibits a smaller potential gap, with discharge specific capacities increased by 25% and 5%, respectively and cycling stability improved by 387% and 87%. It more efficiently promotes the formation and decomposition of Li2O2 demonstrating superior bifunctional catalytic activity. This research provides key materials and an experimental foundation for developing high-performance Li-O-2 batteries.