Optimization of Carbon‐ and Binder‐Free Au Nanoparticle‐Coated Ni Nanowire Electrodes for Lithium‐Oxygen Batteries

A Au nanoparticle‐coated Ni nanowire substrate without binder or carbon is used as the electrode (denoted as the Au/Ni electrode) for Li‐oxygen (Li‐O 2 ) batteries. A minimal amount of Au nanoparticles with sizes of <30 nm on a Ni nanowire substrate are coated using a simple electrodeposition method to the extent that maximum capacity can be utilized. This optimized, one body, Au/Ni electrode shows high capacities of 921 mAh g −1 Au , 591 mAh g −1 Au , and 359 mAh g −1 Au , which are obtained at currents of 300 mAg −1 Au , 500 mAg −1 Au , and 1000 mAg −1 Au respectively. More importantly, the Au/Ni electrode exhibits excellent cycle stability over 200 cycles.