Etching engineering on controllable synthesis of etched N-doped hierarchical porous carbon toward efficient oxygen reduction reaction in zinc–air batteries. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, L.; Chen, Y.; Xu, C.; Wang, W.; Fu, W.; Hu, W.; Zhou, M.; He, B.; Chen, Q.; Hou, Z.; Xu, W.
• Is Part Of: Materials today energy. Volume 20(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Etching engineering -- Controllable synthesis -- N-doped carbon -- Oxygen reduction reaction -- zinc–air batteries; Energy development -- Periodicals; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Energy development; Energy industries; Energy policy; Power resources; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtener.2021.100670
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-6069

Abstract

Abstract: Low-cost, high-performance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts greatly determine the practical application of advanced energy storage and conversion systems, including fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Precise design and controllable preparation of cutting-edge ORR catalysts demonstrate much meaningful to their electrochemical performance. Herein, etching engineering is applied on polypyrrole-derived carbon to controllably prepare etched N-doped hierarchical porous carbon (ENHPC– t, t means etching time) by using ammonia as an etching source. By systematical characterization and analysis, we find altering etching time exerts a profound effect on the morphology, structure, and composition of ENHPC– t . In spite of relatively lower defect density than the counterparts, the obtained ENHPC–5 with unique hierarchical porous structure, much larger specific surface area, and more optimized N configurations, display significantly improved ORR performance in both basic and acid media. When constructed as a cathode catalyst for zinc–air batteries, it also presents competitive performance to commercial Pt/C catalysts. Undoubtedly, our adopted etching strategy provides good guidance on a controllable synthesis of low-price but high-performance carbon-based ORR catalysts. Graphical abstract: Controllable NH3 etching endows ENHPC–5 with unique hierarchical porous morphology, and optimized structure and composition, thus leading to much improved ORR performance in zinc–air batteries. Image 1 Highlights: Etching engineering can be employed to controllably fabricate ENHPC– t. Ammonia etching time has a profound effect on the synthesis of ENHPC– t. ENHPC–5 shows unique morphology, and optimized structure and composition. ENHPC–5 shows excellent ORR performance and good application in ZABs.