Facile synthesis of spinel CuCo 2 O 4 nanocrystals as high-performance cathode catalysts for rechargeable Li–air batteries

CuCo2O4 nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple and low-cost urea combustion method and characterized as bifunctional catalysts for non-aqueous Li-air batteries. The resulting CuCo2O4 catalyst has been demonstrated to effectively reduce the charge-discharge polarization of Li-air batteries in a simulated air environment (80% Ar : 20% O2).