An effective three-dimensional ordered mesoporous CuCo2O4 as electrocatalyst for Li-O2 batteries

• Three-dimensional ordered mesoporous CuCo2O4 materials as catalysts in lithium-oxygen batteries were prepared.
• They show high bifunctional activity for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions.
• They especially improve the reversibility and cycling stability of Li–O2 batteries.

Three-dimensional ordered mesoporous (3DOM) CuCo2O4 materials have been synthesized via a hard template and used as bifunctional electrocatalysts for rechargeable Li-O2 batteries. The characterization of the catalyst by X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy confirms the formation of a single-phase, 3-dimensional, ordered mesoporous CuCo2O4 structure. The as-prepared CuCo2O4 nanoparticles possess a high specific surface area of 97.1 m2 g− 1 and a spinel crystalline structure. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrates that mesoporous CuCo2O4 catalyst enhances the kinetics for either oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) or oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The Li-O2 battery utilizing 3DOM CuCo2O4 shows a higher specific capacity of 7456 mAh g− 1 than that with pure Ketjen black (KB). Moreover, the CuCo2O4-based electrode enables much enhanced cyclability with a 610 mV smaller discharge–recharge voltage gap than that of the carbon-only cathode at a current rate of 100 mA g− 1. Such excellent catalytic performance of CuCo2O4 could be associated with its larger surface area and 3D ordered mesoporous structure. The excellent electrochemical performances coupled with its facile and cost-effective way will render the 3D mesoporous CuCo2O4 nanostructures as attractive electrode materials for promising application in Li-O2 batteries.