A carbon dot‐based total green and self‐recoverable solid‐state electrochemical cell fully utilizing O2/H2O redox couple. Issue 3 (3rd August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Zhaomin; Gu, Xiaoqing; Guo, Yutong; Wang, Xin; Shao, Mingwang; Dong, Bin; Kang, Zhenhui
• Is Part Of: SusMat. Volume 1:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 448
• Page End: 457
• Publication Date: 2021-08-03
• Subjects: carbon dots -- electron/proton transfer -- O2/H2O redox couples -- total green electrochemical cell; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Materials -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Clean energy -- Periodicals; Refuse and refuse disposal -- Periodicals; 620.1
• DOI: 10.1002/sus2.23
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2692-4552

Abstract

Abstract: Electrochemical cell can overcome the inherent intermittence of the renewable energy sources, thus showing great potentials in applications ranging from electrical energy storage to future smart grid. However, the current electrochemical cells could not achieve the "total green" feature by fully utilizing the clean and abundant O2 /H2 O redox couples due to the enormous overpotentials for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen release reaction (OER). Herein, we report a "total green" electrochemical composite film cell based on carbon dots (CDots), which can realize both ORR and OER in the acid environment. The in‐air voltage generation (0.95 V, with a maximum power of 5.3 μW) relies on the multiple‐electron‐transfer redox chemical reaction between the two active components inside the composite film, that is, ORR/OER of CDots and the redox reaction of polyaniline (PANI) on the electrode and the resulting proton concentration gradient. Interestingly, the cell can be self‐recovered at low load, recharged by adding H2 O2, or electrocharged at high load. We anticipate that current study may open up new opportunities for designing and developing total‐green energy storage and conversion systems for diverse applications. Abstract : The carbon dot based total‐green electrochemical cell by fully utilizing O2 /H2 O redox couples, whose voltage generation relies on the redox of PANI, the 2e – ORR process of CDots and the proton concentration gradient generated on the CDots/PANI film. Moreover, the cell can be self‐recovered at low load, recharged by adding H2 O2, or electro‐charged at high load, due to its multiple‐electron‐transfer redox chemistry in an acidic environment.