Metal-organic framework-derived cobalt nanoparticle space confined in nitrogen-doped carbon polyhedra networks as high-performance bifunctional electrocatalyst for rechargeable Li–O2 batteries

Traditionary oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts are mainly precious metal materials, but their expensive cost and low amount of storing limit their applications in Li–O2 batteries. Here is a simple way to report that we synthesis cobalt nanoparticle in-situ encapsulated into N-doped carbon polyhedral (Co@NC) by pyrolyzing ZIF-67 and we find that 900 °C is the optimal temperature for pyrolysis. The Co@NC and Co@NC-900/acetylene black (AB) is used as a bifunctional electrocatalysts and an oxygen electrode in Li–O2 batteries respectively. The Co@NC-900/AB can be the promising non-noble-metal-based oxygen electrode in Li–O2 batteries.