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Dendrimer‐Encapsulated Ruthenium Oxide Nanoparticles as Catalysts in Lithium‐Oxygen Batteries
Author(s) -
Bhattacharya Priyanka,
Nasybulin Eduard N.,
Engelhard Mark H.,
Kovarik Libor,
Bowden Mark E.,
Li Xiaohong S.,
Gaspar Daniel J.,
Xu Wu,
Zhang JiGuang
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201402701
Subject(s) - ruthenium , ruthenium oxide , materials science , dendrimer , catalysis , nanoparticle , lithium (medication) , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , oxide , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , medicine , endocrinology , engineering , metallurgy
Dendrimer‐encapsulated ruthenium oxide nanoparticles (DEN‐RuO 2 ) have been used as catalysts in lithium‐oxygen (Li‐O 2 ) batteries for the first time. The results obtained from ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy show that the nanoparticles synthesized by the dendrimer template method are ruthenium oxide, not metallic ruthenium as reported by other groups. The DEN‐RuO 2 significantly improves the cycling stability of Li‐O 2 batteries with carbon electrodes and decreases the charging potential even at ten times less catalyst loading than those reported previously. The monodispersity, porosity, and large number of surface functionalities of the dendrimer template prevent the aggregation of the RuO 2 nanoparticles, making their entire surface area available for catalysis. The potential of using DEN‐RuO 2 as a standalone cathode material for Li‐O 2 batteries is also explored.