Synergistically enhanced iron and zinc bimetallic sites as an advanced ORR electrocatalyst for flow liquid rechargeable Zn–air batteries. Issue 6 (18th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Zhi-Da; Liang, Song; Bai, Cheng-Kun; Guo, Zhong-Feng; Lu, Guo-Long; Sun, Hang; Liu, Zhen-Ning; Zang, Hong-Ying
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 10:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 3169
• Page End: 3177
• Publication Date: 2022-01-18
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d1ta09678h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : A nitrogen-rich mesoporous multi-walled carbon nanotube-dispersed Fe and Zn site oxygen reduction electrocatalyst was designed and fabricated by a secondary coordination chemistry strategy and molten-salt route. Abstract : N-coordinated transition-metal materials are promising electrocatalysts for various sustainable and efficient electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. Here we report a simple synthetic route for simultaneously crafting Fe and Zn bimetallic sites on 1D N-doped hollow mesoporous multi-walled carbon nanotubes (denoted as Fe–Zn/N/C/MWCNTs-800). Attributed to the synergistic effect between the Fe–N x center and Zn–N x center on the coupled conductive heterostructured carbon matrix with moderate pyridinic-N and graphitic-N species, the Fe–Zn/N/C/MWCNTs-800 catalyst exhibited remarkable ORR activity, favorable long-term stability, and remarkable methanol tolerance in an alkaline electrolyte, comparable to commercial 20 wt% Pt/C. Moreover, the assembled flow liquid rechargeable Zn–air batteries with Fe–Zn/N/C/MWCNTs-800 as a cathode material also exhibited excellent open-circuit voltage, power density, and cycling stability over 180 h. This report provides a general strategy for fabricating Zn-based N-coordinated transition-metal electrocatalysts for catalytic applications.