A self-assembled nanoflower-like Ni5P4@NiSe2 heterostructure with hierarchical pores triggering high-efficiency electrocatalysis for Li–O2 batteries

Abstract The remarkably high theoretical energy densities of Li–O 2 batteries have triggered tremendous efforts for next-generation conversion devices. Discovering efficient oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction (ORR/OER) bifunctional catalysts and revealing their internal structure-property relationships are crucial in developing high-performance Li–O 2 batteries. Herein, we have prepared a nanoflower-like Ni 5 P 4 @NiSe 2 heterostructure and employed it as a cathode catalyst for Li–O 2 batteries. As expected, the three-dimensional biphasic Ni 5 P 4 @NiSe 2 nanoflowers facilitated the exposure of adequate active moieties and provide sufficient space to store more discharge products. Moreover, the strong electron redistribution between Ni 5 P 4 and NiSe 2 heterojunctions could result in the built-in electric fields, thus greatly facilitating the ORR/OER kinetics. Based on the above merits, the Ni 5 P 4 @NiSe 2 heterostructure catalyst improved the catalytic performance of Li–O 2 batteries and holds great promise in realizing their practical applications as well as inspiration for the design of other catalytic materials.