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Abstract Developing high performance nonprecious metal‐based electrocatalysts has become a critical first step towards commercial applications of metal‐air batteries. Herein, nanocomposites based on Co/Co2P nanoparticles encapsulated within hierarchically porous N, P, S co‐doped carbon are prepared by controlled pyrolysis of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF‐67) and poly(cyclotriphosphazene‐co‐4,4’‐sulfonyldiphenol) (PZS). The resulting Co/Co2P@NPSC nanocomposites exhibit apparent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and evolution reaction (OER) catalytic performance, and are used as the reversible oxygen catalyst for zinc‐air batteries (ZABs). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations exhibit that Co2P could provide active sites for the ORR and promote the conversion between the adsorbed intermediates, and porous N,P,S co‐doped carbon with Co2P nanoparticles also improves the exposure of actives sites and endows charge transport. Liquid‐state ZABs with Co/Co2P@NPSC as the cathode catalysts demonstrate the greater power density of 198.1 mW cm−2and a long cycling life of 50 h at 10 mA cm−2, likely due to the encapsulation of Co/Co2P nanoparticles by the carbon shell. Solid‐state ZABs also display a remarkable performance with a high peak power density of 74.3 mW cm−2. Therefore, this study indicates the meaning of the design and engineering of hierarchical porous carbon nanomaterial as electrocatalyst for rechargeable metal‐air batteries.
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Recent Advances in Electrode Design for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries
Rechargeable zinc–air batteries (ZABs) show enticing prospects as next‐generation energy conversion and storage technology due to their unique merits of environmental friendliness, low cost, impressive energy density, and high security. However, the dendrite growth, surface passivation, and metal anode corrosion, as well as the sluggish reaction kinetics, deficient bifunctionality, high platinum group metals (PGMs) dependence, and corrosion of carbon‐based materials for air cathodes, are the main problems hindering the large‐scale application of ZABs. Herein, the fundamental principles of ZABs are first introduced. The detailed discussions will be focused on the electrochemical aspects of the metal anode and air cathode by making a comprehensive comparison of the recent progress in the field. Lastly, brief perspectives on the further development of rechargeable ZABs are introduced. This review aims to provide a better understanding of electrode design for ZABs, which will provide guidelines for the design and fabrication of high‐performance and cost‐effective ZABs.
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- PAR ID:
- 10284785
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Small Science
- Volume:
- 1
- Issue:
- 10
- ISSN:
- 2688-4046
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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