Atomically Dispersed Cobalt Trifunctional Electrocatalysts with Tailored Coordination Environment for Flexible Rechargeable Zn–Air Battery and Self‐Driven Water Splitting. Issue 48 (9th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Zheye; Zhao, Xiaoxu; Xi, Shibo; Zhang, Lili; Chen, Zhongxin; Zeng, Zhiping; Huang, Ming; Yang, Hongbin; Liu, Bin; Pennycook, Stephen J.; Chen, Peng
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 10:Issue 48(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-11-09
• Subjects: coordination environment -- self‐driven water splitting -- single‐atom catalysis -- trifunctional electrocatalysts -- Zn–air batteries; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202002896
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract: Designing multifunctional catalysts with high activity, stability, and low‐cost for energy storage and conversion is a significant challenge. Herein, a trifunctional electrocatalyst is synthesized by anchoring individually dispersed Co atoms on N and S codoped hollow carbon spheres (CoSA/N, S‐HCS), which exhibits outstanding catalytic activity and stability for the oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and hydrogen evolution reaction. When equipped in liquid or flexible solid‐state rechargeable Zn–air batteries, CoSA/N, S‐HCS endows them with high power and energy density as well as excellent long‐term cycling stability, outperforming benchmark batteries based on a commercial Pt/C + RuO2 dual catalyst system. Furthermore, a self‐driven water splitting system powered by flexible Zn–air batteries is demonstrated using CoSA/N, S‐HCS as the sole catalyst, giving a high H2 evolution rate of 184 mmol h −1 . The state‐of‐art experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal synergistic cooperation between atomically dispersed CoN4 active sites, nearby electron‐donating S dopants, and the unique carbon support to single‐atom catalysts (SACs). This work demonstrates a general strategy to design various multifunctional SAC systems with a tailored coordination environment. Abstract : Individually dispersed Co atoms anchored on N, S codoped hollow carbon spheres (CoSA/N, S‐HCS) are synthesized as highly efficient and durable trifunctional electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and hydrogen evolution reaction. Using CoSA/N, S‐HCS as the sole catalyst, liquid or flexible solid‐state rechargeable Zn–air batteries and self‐driven water splitting devices with high performance are demonstrated.