Aminouracil-assisted synthesis of CoFe decorated bougainvillea-like N-doped carbon nanoflowers for boosting Zn–air battery and water electrolysis

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 521; p. 230926
• Main Authors: Lin, Shi-Yi, Chen, Yu-Ping, Cao, Ying, Zhang, Lu, Feng, Jiu-Ju, Wang, Ai-Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.02.2022
• Subjects: Oxygen vacancy; Self-assembled bougainvillea-like nanoflowers; Synergistic effect; Trifunctional electrocatalyst; Water electrolysis; Zn–air battery; Zn–air battery; Water electrolysis; Trifunctional electrocatalyst; Synergistic effect; Self-assembled bougainvillea-like nanoflowers; Oxygen vacancy
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.230926

Highly efficient, low-cost, and long-term stable catalysts are of great significance as promising alternatives to noble metal-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in energy-related devices. Herein, CoFe decorated bougainvillea-like N-doped carbon nanoflowers (CoFe-NCNFs) are synthesized through a one-step aminouracil-assisted pyrolysis strategy. Benefit from the abundant active sites from the flower-like structures, along with synergistic effect between multi-compositions, the catalyst displays distinct improvement on the ORR with the more positive onset potential (Eonset = 1.06 V) and half-wave potential (E1/2 = 0.85 V), coupled with the small overpotential (η) of 323 mV and 212 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for OER and HER, respectively. In view of the trifunctional properties, a rechargeable Zn–air battery is constructed by self-assembly, possessing large power density (116.1 mW cm−2), small voltage gap (0.865 V at 5 mA cm−2), and superior durability for 110 h. Also, the catalyst demonstrated excellent catalytic activity and stability in water electrolysis (η = 1.65 V at 10 mA cm−2 for 20 h). This research offers a breakthrough in developing advanced multifunctional non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts in metal–air batteries, water electrolysis, and other energy-correlated devices. [Display omitted] •CoFe-NCNFs were fabricated by a facile pyrolysis method.•The unique structure offers enlarged specific active area and improved stability.•Multi-component synergetic effect brings out trifunctional catalytic activities.•The catalyst performs well in Zn–air battery and water electrolysis.