Li-rich material 0.4Li2MnO3·0.6LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 with a layered/spinel heterostructure is synthesized by a simple strategy. On the basis of structure and morphology analyses, it is revealed that the as-prepared Li-rich material possesses both porous micronano structure and integral layered-spinel heterostructure. Moreover, the obtained layered-spinel cathode material possesses prominent electrochemical characteristics, especially its rate capability. The initial discharge capacity of the as-prepared material is 269 mAh g–1 with a high Coulombic efficiency of 90.3%. The material delivers discharge capacities of 239 mAh g–1 at 0.5C, 195 mAh g–1 at 5C, and 175.8 mAh g–1 even at 10C. Also, the capacity retention of the cell is still as high as 80% at high current density (5C) after 200 cycles. The addition of spinel can inhibit the collapse of the material structure and voltage fading upon cycling. The 3D spinel Li4Mn5O12 phase in the Li-rich compound could provide a fast Li-ion diffusion pathway and a porous micronano structure which are key parameters for the remarkable excellent electrochemical performance of the as-prepared cathode material.Keywords: Cathode material; Electrochemical performance; Layered/spinel heterostructure; Lithium-ion batteries; Porous-rod-like micronano structure;

•The Pt-Zn/C catalyst as anode catalyst for DBHFC were facilely synthesized.•The average particle size of Pt-Zn bimetallic nanoparticles is approximately 2.5 nm.•The Zn-doping can apparently improve the catalytic activity for BH4− electrochemical oxidation.•The maximum power density of DBHFC employing Pt-Zn/C as anode catalyst is as high as 79.9 mW cm−2 at 79.5 mA cm−2 and 25 °C.Carbon supported Pt-Zn bimetallic nanoparticle electrocatalysts (Pt-Zn/C) are facilely prepared by a modified NaBH4 reduction method in aqueous solution at room temperature and investigated as alternative anode catalysts for direct borohydride-hydrogen peroxide fuel cell (DBHFC). The physical and electrochemical properties of the as-prepared nanospherical electrocatalysts are investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and fuel cell test. Based on results of TEM and XRD, the Pt-Zn nanoparticles show average particle size of approximately 2.5 nm on the carbon surface. The fundamental electrochemical results show that the Pt-Zn/C catalysts exhibit much higher catalytic activity and stability for the direct oxidation of BH4− than Pt/C catalyst since Pt atoms are partly substituted by Zn atoms in Pt-Zn catalyst. Among various Pt-Zn catalysts with different compositions, the Pt67Zn33/C catalyst presents the highest catalytic activity for BH4− electrooxidation. The DBHFC using Pt67Zn33/C as anode catalyst and Pt/C as cathode catalyst obtains the maximum power density as high as 79.9 mW cm−2 at 79.5 mA cm−2 and 25 °C.