Integrated Carbon Nanotube/MoO3 Core/Shell Arrays as Freestanding Air Cathodes for Flexible Li–CO2 Batteries

Li–CO 2 batteries are a hopeful candidate for electrochemical energy storage applications by converting the greenhouse gas CO 2 to chemicals. However, the energy harvest ability and cycling stability of powder catalysts have greatly restricted the practical application of this technique. Herein, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods are used to produce MoO 3 ‐coated carbon nanotube (MoO 3 @CNT) arrays as cathode catalyst materials for Li–CO 2 batteries. The interwoven structure of CNTs provides substantial electron transport pathways and the high uniformity of deposition enhances the catalytic activity/stability of the whole electrode, effectively promoting the diffusion of CO 2 during the discharge process and accelerating the decomposition of Li 2 CO 3 under low charge overpotential. At a current density of 0.05 mA cm −2 and a fixed capacity of 1 mAh cm −2 , the as‐prepared electrode presents a competitively low charging overpotential (1 V), an impressive lifetime (300 cycles) and ultrahigh total discharge capacity (30.25 mAh cm −2 ). Using the pouch Li‐CO 2 battery packed with the prepared electrode as the power supply, commercial light emitting diode equipment can be stably lit up under different bending angles. The research results promote the application of Li–CO 2 batteries in portable systems.