Issue 6, 2023

A highly durable zinc-air battery from a directly integrated FexNC@NiFe(OH)x bifunctional catalyst

Abstract

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) hold great promise for energy storage and conversion due to their high theoretical energy density, cost-effectiveness, and inherent safety. However, progress is constrained by sluggish oxygen electrocatalysis and instability at the air cathode. To address such issues, we resort to a directly integrated pseudo-3D composite electrocatalyst based on carbon cloth, on which Fe/Fe3C- and N- co-doped carbon nanotubes are directly induced and then used to further intercalate NiFe hydroxide clusters, FexNC@NiFe(OH)x. This hierarchical electrocatalyst shows enhanced oxygen electrocatalysis (ΔE is 636 mV), rendering high efficiency and durability of ZABs. Such improvement can be attributed to the rationally integrated pseudo-3D structure with high conductivity, high density of active sites, interconnected porosity, and well-bonded components for accelerating electron transfer and ion diffusion while ensuring structural integrity. Moreover, the hierarchical structure increases the electrochemical surface area with superior surface hydrophilicity. As a result, the composite electrocatalyst shows great potential as a binder-free air electrode, as demonstrated in a rechargeable ZAB of a high power density of 85.1 mW cm−2 and a long period of operation beyond 2000 cycles (350 h) without notable degradation, outperforming noble metal electrodes.

Graphical abstract: A highly durable zinc-air battery from a directly integrated FexNC@NiFe(OH)x bifunctional catalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
01 des. 2022
Accepted
31 jan. 2023
First published
02 feb. 2023

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023,10, 1758-1768

A highly durable zinc-air battery from a directly integrated FexNC@NiFe(OH)x bifunctional catalyst

H. Luo, Y. Li, W. Wang, T. Zhou and Z. Guo, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023, 10, 1758 DOI: 10.1039/D2QI02564G

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