2D Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Complexes Derived N-Doped Porous Carbon Nanosheets as Durable Air Cathode for Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries

Abstract

The defect and N-doping engineering are critical to developing the highly efficient metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), mainly because they can efficiently regulate the geometric/electronic structures and sur-/interface properties of the carbon matrix. Herein, we provide a facile and scalable strategy for the large-scale synthesis of N-doped porous carbon nanosheets (NPCNs) with hierarchical pore structure, only involving solvothermal and pyrolysis processes. Additionally, the turnover frequency of ORR (TOFORR) was calculated by taking into account the electron-transfer number (n). Benefiting from the trimodal pore structures, high specific surface area, a higher pore volume, high-ratio mesopores, massive vacancies/long-range structural defects, and high-content pyridinic-N (~2.1%), the NPCNs-1000 shows an excellent ORR activity (1600 rpm, js = ~5.99 mA cm−2), a selectivity to four-electron ORR (~100%) and a superior stability in both the three-electrode tests (CP test for 7500 s at 0.8 V, Δjs = ~0.58 mA cm−2) and Zn–Air battery (a negligible loss of 0.08 V within 265 h). Besides, the experimental results indicate that the enhancement of ORR activity mainly originates from the defects and pyridinic-N. More significantly, this work is expected to realize green and efficient energy storage and conversion along with the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

Recent advances of bifunctional catalysts for zinc air batteries with stability considerations: from selecting materials to reconstruction

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“…323 Also, besides synthesizing catalysts from synthetic chemical products, the source of the catalyst could be environmentally friendly and easily-sourced. Biomass 91,100,105,106,128,130,131,[133][134][135]141,144,148,187,189,192,194,198,212,214,216,225,226,240,242,246,248,[253][254][255]257,258,263,267,287,289,290,295,308,314,322,…”

“…Fig. 23 Performance of different type of catalysts in the zinc-air battery according to reports 91,100,105,106,128,130,131,[133][134][135]141,144,148,187,189,192,194,198,212,214,216,225,226,240,242,246,248,[253][254][255]257,258,263,267,287,289,290,295,308,314,322,. …”

Interfacial Engineering of Leaf-like Bimetallic MOF-Based Co@NC Nanoarrays Coupled with Ultrathin CoFe-LDH Nanosheets for Rechargeable and Flexible Zn-Air Batteries

“…With the rapid growth of energy demand and the ever-worsening of environmental issues, it is extremely important to explore new energy storage and conversion devices that are economical, efficient, and eco-friendly [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Concurrently, electronics are developing towards portability and flexibility in recent years, posing a major challenge to flexible wearable energy storage devices [ 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”