Facile in Situ Preparation of Graphitic-C₃N₄@carbon Paper As an Efficient Metal-Free Cathode for Nonaqueous Li-O₂ Battery.

The rechargeable Li-O2 batteries with high theoretical specific energy are considered to be a promising energy storage system for electric vehicle application. Because of the prohibitive cost, limited supply, and weak durability of precious metals, the developments of novel metal-free catalysts become significant. Herein, the graphitic-carbon nitride@carbon papers have been produced by a facile in situ method and explored as cathodes for Li-O2 batteries, which manifest considerable electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction in nonaqueous electrolytes because of their improved electronic conductivity and high nitrogen content. The assembled Li-O2 batteries using graphitic-carbon nitride@carbon papers as cathodes deliver good rate capability and cycling stability with a capacity retention of more than 100 cycles.