ZIF‐Mediated Anchoring of Co species on N‐doped Carbon Nanorods as an Efficient Cathode Catalyst for Zn‐Air Batteries

• Published in: Energy & environmental materials (Hoboken, N.J.) Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 361 - n/a
• Main Authors: Yu, Qiang, Lv, Jianshuai, Li, Jiantao, Yu, Ruohan, Wu, Jinsong, Xi, Shibo, Li, Xinyuan, Xu, Nuo, Zhou, Liang, Mai, Liqiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2023; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing,Wuhan University of Technology,Wuhan 430070,China; Nanostructure Research Centre,Wuhan University of Technologyy,Wuhan 430070,China%Nanostructure Research Centre,Wuhan University of Technologyy,Wuhan 430070,China%Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences,ASTAR(Agency for Science,Technology and Research),Singapore 627833,Singapore%School of Science,Wuhan University of Technology,Wuhan 430070,China; Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology,Qingdao 266237,China%State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing,Wuhan University of Technology,Wuhan 430070,China%State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing,Wuhan University of Technology,Wuhan 430070,China
• Subjects: Carbon; Catalysts; Cathodes; Chemical reduction; Circuits; Co nanocrystals; Co‐Nx; Metal air batteries; Metal-organic frameworks; Nanocrystals; Nanorods; N‐doped carbon; oxygen reduction reaction; Oxygen reduction reactions; Zeolites; Zinc-oxygen batteries; Zn‐air battery; Co-Nx; Zn-air battery; Co nanocrystals; N-doped carbon; oxygen reduction reaction
• ISSN: 2575-0356; 2575-0348; 2575-0356
• DOI: 10.1002/eem2.12389

Developing efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst is essential for the practical application of Zn‐air batteries (ZABs). In this contribution, we develop a novel zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)‐mediated strategy to anchor Co species on N‐doped carbon nanorods for efficient ORR. Featuring ultrahigh N‐doping (10.29 at.%), monodisperse Co nanocrystal decoration, and well‐dispersed Co‐Nx functionalization, the obtained Co‐decorated N‐doped carbon nanorods (Co@NCNR) exhibit a decent ORR performance comparable to commercial Pt/C in alkaline media. Aqueous ZABs have been assembled using Co@NCNR as the cathode catalyst. The assembled ZABs manifest high initial open‐circuit voltage as well as high energy density. In addition, the Co@NCNR also demonstrates ideal ORR performance in quasi‐solid‐state ZABs. Co species functionalized N‐doped carbon nanorods (Co@NCNRs) featuring ultrahigh N‐doping, monodisperse Co nanocrystal decoration, and well‐dispersed Co‐Nx functionalization are successfully fabricated via a novel ZIF‐mediated strategy. The catalyst demonstrates ideal ORR performance in both aqueous and quasi‐solid‐state Zn‐air batteries.