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Vol. 14 (2022)

MOF-Derived Co and Fe Species Loaded on N-Doped Carbon Networks as Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Zn-Air Batteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00890-w
Yuanyuan Xue
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of New Energy Material Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCast), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People’s Republic of China
Yibo Guo
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of New Energy Material Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCast), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People’s Republic of China
Qinming Zhang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of New Energy Material Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCast), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People’s Republic of China
Zhaojun Xie
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of New Energy Material Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCast), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People’s Republic of China
Jinping Wei
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of New Energy Material Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCast), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People’s Republic of China
Zhen Zhou
School of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Zhen Zhou

zhenzhou@zzu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 14 (2022), Article Number: 162

Abstract

Searching for cheap, efficient, and stable oxygen electrocatalysts is vital to promote the practical performance of Zn-air batteries with high theoretic energy density. Herein, a series of Co nanoparticles and highly dispersed Fe loaded on N-doped porous carbon substrates are prepared through a “double-solvent” method with in situ doped metal-organic frameworks as precursors. The optimized catalysts exhibit excellent performance for oxygen reduction and evolution reaction. Furthermore, rechargeable Zn-air batteries with designed catalysts demonstrate higher peak power density and better cycling stability than those with commercial Pt/C+RuO2. According to structure characterizations and electrochemical tests, the interaction of Co nanoparticles and highly dispersed Fe contributes to the superior performance for oxygen electrocatalysis. In addition, large specific surface areas, porous structures and interconnected three-dimensional carbon networks also play important roles in improving oxygen electrocatalysis. This work provides inspiration for rational design of advanced oxygen electrocatalysts and paves a way for the practical application of rechargeable Zn-air batteries.


Highlights:


1 A novel method is developed to prepare bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts composed of Co nanoparticles and highly dispersed Fe loaded on N-doped carbon substrates by virtues of metal-organic frameworks and two different doping processes.
2 The designed catalysts show comparable performance with commercial catalysts. Meanwhile, rechargeable Zn-air batteries with prepared catalysts demonstrate high peak power density and good cycling stability.
3 The performance promotion originates from the synergy between Co nanoparticles and highly dispersed Fe, porous structures, large specific areas, and distinct three-dimensional carbon networks.

Keywords

Oxygen reduction reaction Oxygen evolution reaction Zn-air batteries Bifunctional catalysts Metal-organic frameworks
Xue, Yuanyuan, Yibo Guo, Qinming Zhang, Zhaojun Xie, Jinping Wei, and Zhen Zhou. 2022. “MOF-Derived Co and Fe Species Loaded on N-Doped Carbon Networks As Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Zn-Air Batteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 14 (August):162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00890-w.
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