Co and CeO2 co-decorated N-doping carbon nanofibers for rechargeable Zn-air batteries

• Published in: Nanotechnology Vol. 30; no. 39; p. 395401
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhengmei, Gao, Daqiang, Xue, Desheng, Liu, Yonggang, Liu, Peitao, Zhang, Jingyan, Qian, Jinmei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IOP Publishing 27.09.2019
• Subjects: Co-CeO; electrocatalysts; N-C nanorods; Zn-air battery; Co-CeO2-N-C nanorods; Zn-air battery; Electrocatalysts
• ISSN: 0957-4484; 1361-6528
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ab2af0

The heterogeneous Co and CeO2 co-decorated N-doping carbon nanofibers (Co-CeO2-N-C) were synthesized via the electrospinning technique. As the bifunctional electrocatalyst, Co-CeO2-N-C nanofibers show excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance, owing to the higher degree of graphitization of carbon, the N-doping, and the formation of an interface between Co and CeO2. The liquid Zn-air battery based on Co-CeO2-N-C nanofibers displays excellent specific capacities (815.9 mA h g−1 at 5 mA cm−2), higher open circuit voltages (1.47 V), and good cycling stability (113 h). The corresponding flexible solid state Zn-air battery shows excellent cycling stability (11 h), and good flexibility. Our finding suggests that Co-CeO2-N-C nanofibers could serve as a new group of bifunctional electrocatalysts for OER and ORR with excellent performance, and make them promising for use in future electric vehicles, off-grid power sources, and portable electronics.