2D Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes/Graphene Hybrid as Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalyst for Long‐Life Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 30; no. 6
• Main Authors: Xu, Yangyang, Deng, Peilin, Chen, Guangda, Chen, Jinxi, Yan, Ya, Qi, Kai, Liu, Hongfang, Xia, Bao Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2020
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Catalytic activity; Chemical reactions; Electrocatalysts; Energy conversion; Graphene; Materials science; Metal air batteries; Metal-organic frameworks; Organic light emitting diodes; oxygen evolution; oxygen reduction; rechargeable; Rechargeable batteries; stability; Structural hierarchy; Synergistic effect; Zinc; Zinc-oxygen batteries; Zn–air batteries
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201906081

The rational construction of efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is of immense significance yet challenging for rechargeable metal–air batteries. Herein, this work reports a metal–organic framework derived 2D nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes/graphene hybrid as the efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst for rechargeable zinc–air batteries. The as‐obtained hybrid exhibits excellent catalytic activity and durability for the oxygen electrochemical reactions due to the synergistic effect by the hierarchical structure and heteroatom doping. The assembled rechargeable zinc–air battery achieves a high power density of 253 mW cm−2 and specific capacity of 801 mAh gZn−1 with excellent cycle stability of over 3000 h at 5 mA cm−2. Moreover, the flexible solid‐state rechargeable zinc–air batteries assembled by this hybrid oxygen electrocatalyst exhibits a high discharge power density of 223 mW cm−2, which can power 45 light‐emitting diodes and charge a cellphone. This work provides valuable insights in designing efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for long‐life metal–air batteries and related energy conversion technologies. A 2D hierarchical nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes/graphene hybrid derived from metal–organic frameworks demonstrates promising potential for long‐life rechargeable Zn–air batteries.