Regulating the nucleation of Li2CO3 and C by anchoring Li-containing carbonaceous species towards high performance Li-CO2 batteries

Binder free MnOOH arrays cathode was prepared for Li-CO 2 battery. The strong anchoring force between MnOOH and Li-containing carbonaceous species regulates nucleation of Li 2 CO 3 and C, and finally tailor the growth mode of discharged products. Li-CO 2 batteries provide an attractive and potential strategy for CO 2 utilization as well as energy conversion and storage with high specific energy densities. However, the poor reversibility caused by the decomposition obstacles of Li 2 CO 3 and C products is still a challenge for Li-CO 2 batteries, which seriously influences its electrochemical performances. Herein, a free-standing MnOOH arrays cathode has been prepared and employed in Li-CO 2 battery, which realizes a great improvement of electrochemical performances by adjusting the discharge products distribution. Experiments coupled with theoretical calculations verifies that the formation of Li-containing carbonaceous species (LiCO 2 , LiCO and Li 2 CO 3 ) bonded with MnOOH through Li ion regulates the nucleation behavior of Li 2 CO 3 and C, making them grown on MnOOH uniformly. The fine Li 2 CO 3 grains (with a size about 5 nm) embedded into carbon matrix greatly enlarges the contact interface between them, facilitating the transmission of electrons through the discharge products and finally improves CO 2 evolution activity. This ingenious design strategy of regulating discharge products distribution to improve electrochemical performances provides a promising way to develop advanced Li-CO 2 batteries.