Nitrogen-doped carbon fibers loaded with Co/Co2Mn3O8 alloy nanoparticles as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc-air batteries
Cheng Wei Ye, Pei Zhi Fan, Dong Wei, Jie Wang, Lan Xu*
College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China. Department of Modern Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China
The lack of low-cost and high-activity bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an important factor restricting the massive application of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs). Herein, nitrogen-doped carbon fibers (NCFs) loaded with Co/Co2Mn3O8 alloy nanoparticles (Co/Co2Mn3O8@NCFs) were reported as a bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst for rechargeable ZABs. The hierarchical porous structure of NCFs and strong synergetic coupling between Co/Co2Mn3O8 alloys and Co-Nx sites accelerated the kinetics of ORR reaction. The abundant lattice oxygen and N-doped sites promoted the efficient OER process. Benefiting from the above advantages, a rechargeable ZAB assembled with Co/Co2Mn3O8@NCFs delivered an excellent energy density of 968.10 Wh kg−1 (normalized to the mass of consumed zinc) and outstanding stable cyclability (steady cycle charge and discharge at 10 mA cm−2 for 120 h), surpassing state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst (830.86 Wh kg−1/75 h). This study demonstrated the potential value of Co/Co2Mn3O8 alloys in energy conversion and storage.
Volume 936, 5 March 2023, 168210
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.168210