Fast‐Charging Zinc‐Air Batteries with Stable Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysis of Mo‐Induced Nanodefective Mo─Co/N─C Catalyst

Abstract

Fast‐charging technology plays a pivotal role in propelling the commercialization of zinc‐air batteries (ZABs). While the lifetime of ZABs under fast‐charging is severely shortened by the abundant O2 bubbles and the deactivation of the cathode catalysts. Herein, a defective Mo─Co/N─C electrocatalyst is presented with Co nanoparticles and molybdenum‐oxo subnano clusters by pyrolyzing the Lindqvist polyoxometalate incorporated ZIF‐67 precursor. The crystalline defects are exacerbated by doping the polyoxometalate into the pores of ZIF‐67. Furthermore, the accessibility of the pore defects is increased by Mo‐leaching during the pre‐activation. These accessible pore defects effectively prevent the exfoliation of catalysts from the support under the attack of O2 bubbles, and improve the electrolyte penetration. Besides, the pore defects offer numerous active sites for the electrocatalytic reactions, resulting in an active and stable Mo─Co/N─C catalyst. Hence, such a Mo─Co/N─C electrocatalyst achieves a long lifetime of 1538 h at 5 mA cm−2, and a long lifetime of 641 h under a fast charge of 50 mA cm−2 in the homemade ZAB. The unique components and operational mechanisms propel scientists to portray splendid blueprints for durable fast‐charging ZABs for potential industrial applications.

N-Doped C Concatenates FeCo Alloys and Co Nanoparticles as a Dual-Functional Oxygen Catalyst for Long-Lasting Zinc–Air Batteries

“…Meanwhile, the FeCo AL &Co NP /NC-based ZAB delivered specific capacity of 748, 653, and 627 mA h g Zn –1 with the increasing current density, approaching the theoretical capacity (820 mA h g Zn –1 ) of the faultless ZAB (Figure S6). The stability of the homemade ZAB with FeCo AL &Co NP /NC was confirmed by obtained a charge–discharge curve at 5 mA cm –2 . The initial charge–discharge potential gap (ζ) of the ZAB with FeCo AL &Co NP /NC is 1.122 V, which outperforms the noble metals-assembled ZAB (ζ = 1.129 V).…”

“…) of the faultless ZAB (Figure S6). 56 The stability of the homemade ZAB with FeCo AL &Co NP /NC was confirmed by obtained a charge−discharge curve at 5 mA cm −2 . The initial charge−discharge potential gap (ζ) of the ZAB with FeCo AL &Co NP /NC is 1.122 V, which outperforms the noble metals-assembled ZAB (ζ = 1.129 V).…”

Manganese, nitrogen co-doped porous carbon with high-loading active sites as the oxygen reduction catalyst for Zn–air batteries

“…In order to achieve carbon neutrality goals and accelerate the development of an environment-friendly society, the next generation of clean energy devices, including Zn-air batteries (ZABs), has garnered signicant attention because of low pollution features. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] However, the actual performance of ZABs is limited by the slow ORR kinetics. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] As benchmark catalysts for the ORR, Pt-based catalysts are costly and prone to instability, making them unsuitable for widespread commercial applications.…”