In situ coupling of NiFe nanoparticles with N-doped carbon nanofibers for Zn-air batteries driven water splitting

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 285; p. 119856
• Main Authors: Lai, Chenglong, Fang, Jiayi, Liu, Xupo, Gong, Mingxing, Zhao, Tonghui, Shen, Tao, Wang, Kangli, Jiang, Kai, Wang, Deli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.05.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Batteries; Bifunctional electrocatalyst; Carbon; Carbon fibers; Charge transfer; Cloth; Coupling; Crosslinking; Electrodes; Flexible Zn-air battery; In-situ coupling; Intermetallic compounds; Iron compounds; Low voltage; Mechanical properties; Metal air batteries; Nanofibers; Nanoparticles; Nickel compounds; Self-assembly; Synergistic effect; Water splitting; Zinc; Zinc-oxygen batteries; Bifunctional electrocatalyst; Water splitting; Synergistic effect; Flexible Zn-air battery; In-situ coupling
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.119856

A flexible 3D free-standing air-electrode (NiFe/NCNF/CC) is constructed by the in-situ coupling of NiFe nanoparticles with intertwined N-doped carbon nanofibers on carbon cloth. The stable 3D interconnected conductive network structure and 3D spatial distribution of stable reactive sites ensures efficent ORR/OER catalytic performance. Furthermore, the liquid Zn-air battery and corresponding flexible Zinc-air battery are assembled with NiFe/NCNF/CC electrode, which exhibit excellent battery performance. In addition, two liquid rechargeable Zn-air batteries can serve as a self-powered device for water splitting. The current study presents an effective way to construct advanced bifunctional electrode for Zinc-air battery. [Display omitted] •NiFe/NCNF/CC is constructed by in-situ coupling of NiFe particles and N-doped carbon fibers.•The 3D network structure benefit to the diffusion process of oxygen and the electron/charge transfer.•The flexible 3D free-standing bifunctional electrode avoids the side-effect of binder. A flexible 3D free-standing bifunctional electrode has been successfully constructed by in-situ coupling of NiFe nanoparticles and N-doped carbon nanofibers on carbon cloth (NiFe/NCNF/CC). The 3D network structure is formed by the cross-linking of slender N-doped carbon nanofibers, which provides large specific surface area and ensures fast electron/charge transfer. The in-situ coupling in 3D space of NiFe particles and N-doped carbon nanofibers provide sufficient and stable reactive sites for both OER and ORR. Therefore, NiFe/NCNF/CC electrode exhibits efficient and stable ORR and OER performance. The NiFe/NCNF/CC electrode assembled Zinc-air battery exhibits a high power density of 140.1 mW cm−2 and excellent charge/discharge stability for 700 cycles. Interestingly, the flexible Zinc-air battery delivers flexible and foldable mechanical properties and a low voltage gap of 0.55 V at 1.0 mA cm−2. Furthermore, two liquid Zinc-air batteries are served as stable power for the self-assembled water-splitting device.