α-MnO Nanowire-Anchored Highly Oxidized Cluster as a Catalyst for Li-O Batteries: Superior Electrocatalytic Activity and High Functionality.

An effective chemical way to optimize the oxygen electrocatalyst and Li-O electrode functionalities of metal oxide can be developed by the control of chemical bond nature with the surface anchoring of highly oxidized selenate (SeO ) clusters. The bond competition between (Se -O) and (Mn-O) bonds is quite effective in stabilizing Jahn-Teller-active Mn state and in increasing oxygen electron density of α-MnO nanowire (NW). The selenate-anchored α-MnO NW shows excellent oxygen electrocatalytic activity and electrode performance for Li-O batteries, which is due to the improved charge transfer kinetics and reversible formation/decomposition of Li O . The present study underscores that the surface anchoring of highly oxidized cluster can provide a facile, effective way of improving the oxygen electrocatalyst and electrochemical performances of nanostructured metal oxide in Li-O cells.