p-Band Center Modulation in High-Performance Cathode and Stable Composite Lithium Anode Enabling Ah-Scale Flexible Li–O ₂ Batteries

Nonaqueous rechargeable flexible lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) offer a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage. However, due to sluggish cathodic reaction kinetics combined with instability issues arising from Li anode corrosion, the efficient and stable operation of ampere hour (Ah) LOBs, which is key to practical application, remains a critical challenge. In this work, the overall battery configuration was systematically optimized by leveraging synergistic interactions between the cathode and anode electrodes. We report a self-supporting MnTe/MnTe₂ heterostructure anchored on nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (MnTe/MnTe₂@NCF), engineered through the modulation of p-orbital configurations. The structural optimization facilitates enhanced electrochemical reaction kinetics, endowing the cathode with superior catalytic performance as an advanced cathode. Concurrently, a robust hybrid Li₂Te/Te/LiCl demonstrates improved mechanical stability and toughness, which proves its efficacy as a high-performance protective layer for the lithium anode. As a result, the fabricated LOBs demonstrate notable performance, including a low discharge/charge polarization of 0.761 V, a high specific capacity of 13,702.3 mAh g^-1, and a long cycle life exceeding 440 cycles. Moreover, an optimized Li-O₂ pouch cell based on the MnTe/MnTe₂@NCF cathode exhibits a boosted energy density of 588.7 Wh kg^-1, providing a technical pathway for high-energy-density LOBs.