Issue 32, 2024

Maximizing active site utilization in carbocatalysts for high-performance oxygen reduction reactions and zinc–air battery-powered capacitive deionization

Abstract

The underutilization of active sites limits the performance enhancement of functional carbon nanomaterials in electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). Here, we propose a molten salt-regulated synthesis of indole-based hypercrosslinked polymers to create a series of nitrogen-doped porous carbon materials (NPC) with controllable quantities of active sites and specific surface areas (SSA). A deep investigation of the structure–property relationship indicates that the environment of the active sites, particularly the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), plays a pivotal supporting role. Furthermore, the ECSA per active site (EPA) correlates directly with ORR performance. The NPC–Zn catalyst, which possesses the highest EPA, demonstrates the highest half-wave potential (0.859 V) and kinetic current density (102.64 mA cm−2), and excellent performance in the rechargeable zinc–air battery (ZAB). Furthermore, the NPC–Zn-based capacitive deionization (CDI) device, powered by NPC–Zn-based ZAB, exhibits a stable adsorption capacity of 27.8 mg g−1 for 6 hours, which is consistent with that driven by a direct-current supply. This work provides new insights into the utilization efficiency of active sites in carbocatalysts for ORR, serving as a prime example for designing high-performance ORR electrocatalysts with broad application prospects in the field of environmental energy.

Graphical abstract: Maximizing active site utilization in carbocatalysts for high-performance oxygen reduction reactions and zinc–air battery-powered capacitive deionization

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
17 May 2024
Accepted
23 Jul 2024
First published
27 Jul 2024

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 20868-20878

Maximizing active site utilization in carbocatalysts for high-performance oxygen reduction reactions and zinc–air battery-powered capacitive deionization

X. Mou, J. Zhang, B. Zhao, Y. Dong, H. Liu, J. Liang, X. Xin, Y. Asakura, S. Zhang, Z. Xiao and Y. Yamauchi, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, 12, 20868 DOI: 10.1039/D4TA03422H

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