Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Zn-air Batteries

Researchers from the Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products have made significant advancements in the development of efficient oxygen electrocatalysts for rechargeable Zn-air batteries. According to a new study, the design of Co and N co-doped carbon matrices has emerged as a promising strategy for the fabrication of bi-functional electrocatalysts. The research, funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Materials, demonstrates a simple, scalable, and efficient approach to fabricating cost-effective high-performance ORR/OER catalysts.

Key Takeaways:

• The researchers designed surface-oxidized Co nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated into N-doped hierarchically porous carbon materials (Co/NHPC) as ORR/OER catalysts for rechargeable Zn-air batteries.
• The fabricated electrocatalyst exhibited a core-shell structure with surface-oxidized Co nanoparticles anchored on hierarchically porous carbon sheets.
• The carbon shells prevented Co NP cores from aggregating, ensuring excellent electrocatalytic properties for ORR with a half-wave potential of 0.82 V and a moderate OER performance.
• The study demonstrated a long cycle life and a low charge-discharge voltage gap.
• The researchers concluded that the study provides a simple, scalable, and efficient approach to fabricating cost-effective high-performance ORR/OER catalysts for rechargeable Zn-air batteries.

Statistics:

• The fabricated electrocatalyst displayed a half-wave potential of 0.82 V for ORR.
• The study demonstrated a moderate OER performance.
• The obtained Co/NHPC as a cathode was assembled in a zinc-air battery that delivered an open-circuit potential of 1.50 V.
• The charge-discharge voltage gap was low.
• The cycle life was long.

Sources:

• Co/n-doped Hierarchical Porous Carbon As an Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalyst for Rechargeable Zn-air Battery. RSC Advances, 2021;11(26):15753-15761.
• National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
• Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Materials
• Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products
• Royal Society of Chemistry (www.rsc.org/)
• Jianchun Jiang, Chinese Acad Forestry Caf, Key & Open Lab Forest Chem Engn, Natl Engn Lab Biomass Chem Utilizat, Sfa, Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, Nanjing 210042, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.