Metal-mediated Schiff base polymer enables metal/nitrogen codoped carbon nanosheets as efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for durable rechargeable Zn-air batteries

Weichao Xie, Yijiang Liu, Yan Yan, Mei Yang, Mingyue Zhang, Bei Liu, Huaming Li, Hongbiao Chen, Zhiqun Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report a simple yet robust route to bifunctional electrocatalysts comprising FeNi and Co4N hybrid nanoparticles co-embedded within N-doped carbon nanosheets (denoted FeNi/Co4N-NCS) for rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) with high power density and capacity as well as outstanding cycling stability, markedly outperforming the Pt/C&IrO2 electrocatalyst counterpart. The as-crafted FeNi/Co4N-NCS electrocatalysts display outstanding bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity with a low overall oxygen electrode activity (ΔE = 0.664 V). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the synergy of FeNi and Co4N reduces the rate-determining step (RDS) energy barrier, thereby greatly increasing electrocatalytic activity. The aqueous ZAB assembled with FeNi/Co4N-NCS delivers a high power density of 160 mW cm−2, large specific capacity of 812 mAh g−1Zn, and long cycling life of 1450 h at 5 mA cm−2. This study highlights an effective strategy to yield durable bifunctional electrocatalysts for metal-air batteries.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102783
JournalEnergy Storage Materials
Volume59
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

  • Bifunctional catalyst
  • FeNi and CoN hybrid nanoparticles
  • N-doped carbon nanosheets
  • Schiff base polymer
  • Zn-air battery

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