Ni-doped Mn2O3 microspheres as highly efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction and Zn-air battery

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 47; no. 4; pp. 2378 - 2388
• Main Authors: Kim, Hongjae, Min, Kyeongseok, Shim, Sang Eun, Lim, Dongwook, Baeck, Sung-Hyeon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 12.01.2022
• Subjects: Electrocatalyst; Heteroatom doping; Oxygen reduction reaction; Transition metal oxide; Zn-air battery; Transition metal oxide; Zn-air battery; Electrocatalyst; Oxygen reduction reaction; Heteroatom doping
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.10.164

Herein, Ni-doped Mn2O3 microspheres are successfully synthesized via the facile coprecipitation of metal ions and ammonium bicarbonates, followed by a heat treatment process. Ni-doped Mn2O3 exhibits outstanding catalytic performance toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media with a half-wave potential of 0.801 V, limiting current density of 6.02 mA cm−2 at 0.6 V vs. RHE, outstanding long-term durability, and strong tolerance to methanol. Furthermore, a Zn–air primary battery using Ni-doped Mn2O3 as an air cathode shows high open-circuit voltage of 1.52 V and high power density of 88.2 mW cm−2, outperforming the commercial Pt/C cathode. The exceptional performance of the Ni-doped Mn2O3 microspheres is ascribed to the hierarchical structure, optimized particle size, and Ni incorporation into Mn2O3. The proposed synthesis strategy provides a new methodology for the design and fabrication of electrochemically active transition metal-doped materials as efficient electrocatalysts for a variety of energy storage and conversion reactions. [Display omitted] •Ni-doped Mn2O3 are fabricated via a simple co-precipitation and annealing process.•Ni-doped Mn2O3 shows outstanding activity and long-term durability toward ORR.•Zn-air primary battery using Ni-doped Mn2O3 possess excellent performance.