D-orbital Reconstruction Achieves Low Charge Overpotential in Li-oxygen Batteries

D-orbital Reconstruction Achieves Low Charge Overpotential in Li-oxygen Batteries

Abstract Charge overpotential for oxygen evolution reaction is a crucial parameter for the energy conversion efficiency of lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries. So far, the realization of low charge overpotential via catalyst design is a grand challenge in this field, which usually exceeds 0.25 V. Herei...

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Main Authors: Yin Zhou, Kun Yin, Yingying Huang, Jiapei Li, Anquan Zhu, Dewu Lin, Guoqiang Gan, Jianfang Zhang, Kai Liu, Tian Zhang, Kunlun Liu, Chuhao Luan, Huawei Yang, Hou Chen, Shaojun Guo, Wenjun Zhang, Guo Hong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58640-6
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Summary:Abstract Charge overpotential for oxygen evolution reaction is a crucial parameter for the energy conversion efficiency of lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries. So far, the realization of low charge overpotential via catalyst design is a grand challenge in this field, which usually exceeds 0.25 V. Herein, we report an orbital reconstruction strategy to significantly decrease the charge overpotential to the low 0.11 V by employing PdCo nanosheet catalyst under a low-loading mass (0.3 mg/cm2) and capacity (0.3 mAh/cm2). Experimental and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the precise d-d orbital coupling (d xz-d xz, d yz-d yz and d z 2-d z 2) between the low-electronegativity Co and Pd leads to the reconstruction of Pd 4 d orbitals in PdCo nanosheets, thereby resulting in a downward shift of all the three active Pd 4 d orbitals (d z 2, d xz and d yz) relative to that of Pd nanosheets. Furthermore, the highest energy level of the Pd 4d z 2 orbital in PdCo is lower than the lowest energy levels of the Pd 4d xz and 4d yz orbitals in pure Pd, significantly decreasing the charge activation energy and achieving a highest energy conversion efficiency of 91%. This finding provides the orbital-level tuning into rational design of highly efficient electrocatalysts for Li-O2 batteries.
ISSN:2041-1723

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