Three-dimensional graphene-like carbon nanosheets coupled with MnCo-layered double hydroxides nanoflowers as efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst

As a multifunctional material with excellent performances, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and their composites have broad application prospects in energy storage, catalysis, environmental protection, drug release and other fields. In this study, three-dimensional (3-D) graphene-like carbon nanosheets (AGC) were prepared by one-step synthesis method as active carrier materials, and then MnCo-LDHs nanoflowers assembled with ultrafine nanosheets were loaded on them to construct a newly 3-D architecture of AGC/MnCo-LDHs nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and XPS. The composite materials were assembled into OER and ORR electrodes for electrochemical measurements as efficient bifunctional catalysts. The favorable 3-D porous architecture (fast ion diffusion) of MnCo-LDHs and carrier effect of AGC (high electron conductivity) were the key contributing factors for their excellent electrochemical performances of nanocomposites.