Mesoporous alpha -MnO sub(2/Pd catalyst air electrode for rechargeable lithium-air battery)

Rechargeable lithium-air battery is studied using Pd/mesoporous alpha -MnO sub(2 air composite electrode. In the present work, we have studied the preparation and electrochemical performance of ordered mesoporous alpha -MnO) sub(2) as a cathode catalyst for rechargeable Li-air batteries. alpha -MnO sub(2 was prepared by reduction of KMnO) sub(4) solution in acidic aqueous solution followed by successive proton and alkali-ion exchange method. alpha -MnO sub(2 with high surface area of 33-133.0 m[super]2 g[super]-1 was successively synthesized and used as an electrode catalyst for Li-air battery. It was found that the mixture of Pd and mesoporous alpha -MnO) sub(2) electrode shows the high activity to oxidation and reduction of Li to form Li sub(2O) sub(2) or Li sub(2O. Application of Pd/mesoporous alpha -MnO) sub(2), which is mixed with teflonized acetylene binder (TAB), for air electrode is effective for decreasing the charge potential and also improved the energy efficiency as well as cyclability.