High-Surface-Area and Porous Co2P Nanosheets as Cost-Effective Cathode Catalysts for Li–O2 Batteries

To enable lithium–oxygen batteries for practical applications, the design and efficient synthesis of nonprecious metal catalysts with high activity and stable structural properties are demanded. The objective is to accelerate the sluggish kinetics of both oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction by facilitating electronic/ionic transport and improving oxygen diffusion in a porous structure. In this study, high-surface-area and porous cobalt phosphide (Co2P) nanosheets are synthesized via an environmentally safe hydrothermal method, where red phosphorous is used as the phosphorous source. It was found that the as-prepared Co2P/acetylene black (AB) composite delivered enhanced electrochemical performances, such as high capacities of 2551 mA h g–1 (based on the total weight of Co2P and AB) or 5102 mA h g–1 (based on the weight of Co2P or AB) and a good cycle life of more than 1800 h (132 cycles) in lithium–oxygen battery. The rational design of the Co2P/AB porous oxygen electrode structure provides sufficient accessible reaction sites and a short diffusion path for electrolyte penetration and diffusion of O2.