Boosting Energy Efficiency and Stability of Li–CO2 Batteries via Synergy between Ru Atom Clusters and Single‐Atom Ru–N4 sites in the Electrocatalyst Cathode

• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202200559
• Publication Date: 2022-03-01T15:34:37Z
• Authors: Jiangfeng Lin; Jingnan Ding; Haozhi Wang; Xinyi Yang; Xuerong Zheng; Zechuan Huang; Wanqing Song; Jia Ding; Xiaopeng Han; Wenbin Hu
• Keywords: Overpotential; Carbon fibers

The Li-CO2 battery is a novel strategy for CO2 capture and energy-storage applications. However, the sluggish reduction evolution reactions cause large overpotential poor cycling performance. Herein, new catalyst containing well-defined ruthenium (Ru) atomic clusters (RuAC ) single-atom Ru-N4 (RuSA composite sites on carbon nanobox substrate (RuAC+SA @NCB) (NCB = nitrogen-doped nanobox) fabricated by utilizing different complexation effects between Ru cation amine group (NH2 quantum dots or nitrogen moieties NCB. Systematic experimental theoretical investigations demonstrate vital role of electronic synergy RuAC in improving electrocatalytic activity toward reaction (CO2 ER) RR). properties are essentially modulated adjacent species, which optimizes interactions with key intermediates thereby reducing energy barriers rate-determining steps RR ER. Remarkably, RuAC+SA @NCB-based cell displays unprecedented overpotentials as low 1.65 1.86 V at ultrahigh rates 1 2 A g-1 , twofold lifespan than baselines. findings provide to construct catalysts active comprising multiple atom assemblies high-performance metal-CO2 batteries.