α-MnO₂ Nanowire-Anchored Highly Oxidized Cluster as a Catalyst for Li-O₂ Batteries: Superior Electrocatalytic Activity and High Functionality

An effective chemical way to optimize the oxygen electrocatalyst and Li-O₂ electrode functionalities of metal oxide can be developed by the control of chemical bond nature with the surface anchoring of highly oxidized selenate (SeO₄ ²⁻) clusters. The bond competition between (Se⁶⁺−O) and (Mn−O) bonds is quite effective in stabilizing Jahn–Teller-active Mn³⁺ state and in increasing oxygen electron density of α-MnO₂ nanowire (NW). The selenate-anchored α-MnO₂ NW shows excellent oxygen electrocatalytic activity and electrode performance for Li-O₂ batteries, which is due to the improved charge transfer kinetics and reversible formation/decomposition of Li₂O₂. 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-O₂ cells.