Orthorhombically distorted perovskite SeZnO₃ nanosheets as an electrocatalyst for lithium-oxygen batteries

Perovskite ABO₃ provides higher catalytic activity than binary metal oxides owing to crystallographic defects and oxygen vacancies due to the multivalence of the A and B cations. In this study, perovskite SeZnO₃ nanosheets were synthesized via a simple wet chemistry method with sodium dodecyl sulfate as the surfactant. Material surface analysis using O 1s X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy confirmed an O_vacancy concentration of 50%, confirming the presence of large amounts of defects on the surface of the SeZnO₃ nanosheets. The lithium-oxygen batteries with SeZnO₃ nanosheet as an oxygen-electrode electrocatalyst exhibited a high reversibility (140 cycles) and a stable rate capability (50–500 mA g⁻¹). Additionally, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements indicated that the electronic conductivity of a SeZnO₃ nanosheet was higher than that of ZnO. Therefore, we propose that the unique SeZnO₃ structure exhibits excellent catalytic activity and electrical conductivity and can serve as a route towards improved lithium-oxygen batteries.