Carbon-based composites for rechargeable zinc-air batteries: A mini review

Abstract

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) have gained a significant amount of attention as next-generation energy conversion and storage devices owing to their high energy density and environmental friendliness, as well as their safety and low cost. The performance of ZABs is dominated by oxygen electrocatalysis, which includes the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts that are both highly active and stable. Carbon-based materials are regarded as reliable candidates because of their superior electrical conductivity, low price, and high durability. In this Review, we briefly introduce the configuration of ZABs and the reaction mechanism of bifunctional ORR/OER catalysts. Then, the most recent developments in carbon-based bifunctional catalysts are summarized in terms of carbon-based metal composites, carbon-based metal oxide composites, and other carbon-based composites. In the final section, we go through the significant obstacles and potential future developments for carbon-based bifunctional oxygen catalysts for ZABs.

Highly efficient tungsten/molybdenum-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction: a review

“…13–16 Fuel cells (FCs) including metal–air batteries (MABs) are widely used as new energy storage technologies because they can directly convert chemical energy into electricity. 17–20 The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a key cathode reaction in fuel cells but with sluggish kinetics, thus it is critical to explore low-budget and high-performance ORR electrocatalysts. 21–24 Although Pt-based electrocatalysts have been used in some commercial applications as electrocatalysts, their disadvantages of prohibitive cost, scarce resources, and CO 25 and methanol poisoning greatly hinder the development of their large-scale commercial applications.…”

Progress on Bifunctional Carbon‐Based Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries Based on Voltage Difference Performance

“…[ 32 ] To address these issues, numerous studies have sought to tackle the anode‐related challenges. [ 33 ] For example, mechanically replacing the zinc anode is a feasible approach to address these hurdles in the practical application of RZAB batteries. [ 34 ] Moreover, the kinetics of oxygen reactions, including the OER during charging and the ORR during discharging, are noticeably slow.…”

Synergistic Catalysis of Cobalt Tetroxide and Bamboo-Shaped Carbon Nanotubes Doped with Nitrogen for Oxygen Reduction in Zn–Air Batteries

“…Rapid consumption of traditional fossil fuels has led to an increasingly serious energy crisis and environmental problems. , It is urgent to develop new energy and advanced energy storage and conversion systems. As a new type of energy conversion system, metal–air cells are favored, due to their significant ability in terms of energy density, low cost, and good safety . In such systems, the main involved reactions are the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) .…”

“…As a new type of energy conversion system, metal−air cells are favored, due to their significant ability in terms of energy density, low cost, and good safety. 3 In such systems, the main involved reactions are the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). 4 The reaction kinetics of the ORR is relatively slow, so efficient electrocatalysts are needed for accelerating the reaction rate.…”