Mo₂CTₓ supported ruthenium nanoparticles as efficient cathode catalyst for Li-CO₂ battery with high capacity and long cycle life

Abstract

Li-CO₂ batteries have garnered considerable attention due to their high energy density and their ability to utilize CO₂ resources. However, the generation of insulating discharge product Li₂CO₃ severely weakens its cyclability, which places high demands on the cathode catalyst in Li-CO₂ batteries. This study focuses on the development of Ru nanoparticles modified Mo₂CTₓ as the cathode for Li-CO₂ batteries, which is integrated with a high surface area, abundant active sites, and enhanced conductivity. As a result, the Ru@Mo₂CTₓ cathode achieves a remarkable discharge capacity of 20995 mA·h·g−1 and a long cycle life of 1750 h. Additionally, density functional theory calculations provide further insights into the enhancement in absorptivity with Ru introduced onto Mo₂CTₓ. This research paves the way for manipulating the catalytic activity of Mo₂CTₓ and reducing the amount of usage of Ru in Li-CO₂ batteries.