3D honeycombed cobalt, nitrogen co-doped carbon nanosheets via hypersaline-protected pyrolysis towards efficient oxygen reduction. (22nd June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, Yong; Chen, Shan; Lu, Hengyi; Zhang, Chao; Liu, Tianxi
• Is Part Of: Nanotechnology. Volume 31:Number 36(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06-22
• Subjects: hypersaline-protected pyrolysis -- honeycombed carbon nanosheets -- cobalt and nitrogen co-doping -- oxygen reduction reaction -- Zn-air battery; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Publications périodiques; Nanotechnologies; Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ab97d5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-4484

Abstract

Abstract: The broad application of metal-air batteries and fuel cells have been greatly limited due to their slow kinetics of oxygen electrodes involving the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and therefore the development of high-efficient, low-cost and high-reserve ORR electrocatalysts is of great significance. Herein, a hypersaline-protected pyrolysis strategy is presented for preparing 3D honeycombed cobalt, nitrogen co-doped carbon nanosheets (Co/N-CNS) by using eco-friendly biomass as a carbon and nitrogen source. During the hypersaline-protected pyrolysis, the pyridinic nitrogen-rich biomass facilitates the formation of highly active Co/N active sites among the resultant Co/N-CNS, while the templating-washing-drying cyclic utilization of salts creates honeycombed pore structures among the Co/N-CNS. Due to the structural features of honeycombed pores and uniform distributed active sites, the Co/N-CNS catalyst offers excellent ORR activity, high durability and methanol-tolerant performance in an alkaline electrolyte. As a demonstration, a primary Zn-air battery using the Co/N-CNS cathode delivers a high power density and excellent operating stability beyond that of commercial Pt/C cathode.