Mg Doped Perovskite LaNiO₃ Nanofibers as an Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries

Abstract

Rational design of efficient and durable bifunctional catalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is important for rechargeable zinc–air batteries. Herein, Mg doped perovskite LaNiO3 (LNO) nanofibers (LNMO NFs) were prepared by a facile electrospinning method combined with subsequent calcination. LNMO NFs show a more positive half-wave potential of 0.69 V and a lower overpotential of 0.45 V at a current density of 10 mA cm–2 than those of the pristine LNO NFs. As an air electrode for zinc–air battery, the cell with LaNi0.85Mg0.15O3 NFs catalyst is able to deliver a high specific capacity of 809.9 mAh g–1 at a current density of 5 mA cm–2. It also shows an excellent cycling stability over 110 h at a current density of 10 mA cm–2. DFT calculation results demonstrate that the LNMO surface binds oxygen stronger than LNO, which contributes to enhanced OER activity as observed in our experiments. The results indicate that LNMO NFs are an efficient and durable bifunctional catalyst for zinc–air batteries.

Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Metal-Air Batteries: Interactions between O2, Zn2+ and H2O Impurities

“…Finally we would like to note that it is well known that GC is not a good catalyst for the ORR in aqueous electrolytes, since the activity is low and mostly H 2 O 2 is formed instead of water. 53 Therefore, better catalysts such as Pt or metal oxides [54][55][56] or even nanofiber materials, [57][58][59] are needed and used for Zn-air batteries. In non-aqueous electrolytes, the role of the electrocatalyst on the reaction mechanism is less understood.…”

Halide Perovskite Materials for Energy Storage Applications

“…The application of halide perovskites in various energy systems is promising, since the perovskite structures have been found applicable to a number of alkali-ion batteries, [241,242] lithium-sulfur batteries, lithiumoxygen batteries, [243][244][245][246][247][248][249][250][251][252][253][254][255][256] and zinc-air batteries. [257][258][259][260][261] Further deployment depends on the improvement of the halide perovskites stability when they are in contact with the salient species in the battery devices, such as the aqueous environment and basic/acidic electrolyte. [191][192][193] There is insufficient mechanistic study to understand the photocharging process of the halide perovskite-based photorechargeable battery, which impedes the development of the halide perovskite-based energy storage devices.…”

Gadolinium‐Induced Valence Structure Engineering for Enhanced Oxygen Electrocatalysis

“…With the mounting influence of energy crisis and environmental pollution, it is urgent to design a series of new energy materials and technology which are sustainable and renewable 1–3. Exploring non‐noble metal catalysts with desired activity and stability to replace costly Pt‐based ones for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been a significant challenge,4,5 for the large‐scale commercialization of energy‐related devices, such as rechargeable metal–air batteries6–9 and fuel cells 10,11. Transition metals and their derivatives, including alloys,12,13 oxides,14–16 chalcogenides,17–20 phosphides,21–23 carbides,24–26 and nitrides27–29 have attracted researcher's widely attention because of their intrinsic electrochemical properties and low price.…”