FeNiCo|MnGaOx Heterostructure Nanoparticles as Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Zn−Air Batteries

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 20; no. 22; pp. e2308756 - n/a
• Main Authors: Luo, Liuxiong, Liu, Yuren, Chen, Siyu, Zhu, Qinwen, Zhang, Di, Fu, Yue, Li, Jiaqi, Han, Jianling, Gong, Shen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Adsorption; Air batteries; aqueous zinc−air batteries; bifunctional catalyst; Carbon nanotubes; Chemical reduction; DFT calculation; Electrocatalysts; Electronic structure; Electrons; Energy storage; heterostructure nanoparticles; Heterostructures; Nanoparticles; OER; ORR; Synergistic effect
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308756

Driven by the pressing demand for stable energy systems, zinc−air batteries (ZABs) have emerged as crucial energy storage solutions. However, the quest for cost‐effective catalysts to enhance vital oxygen evolution and reduction reactions remains challenging. FeNiCo|MnGaOx heterostructure nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are synthesized using liquid‐phase reduction and H2 calcination approach. Compared to its component, such FeNiCo|MnGaOx/CNT shows a high synergistic effect, low impedance, and modulated electronic structure, leading to a superior bifunctional catalytic performance with an overpotential of 255 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and half‐wave potential of 0.824 V (ω = 1600 rpm and 0.1 m KOH electrolyte). Moreover, ZABs based on FeNiCo|MnGaOx/CNT demonstrate notable features, including a peak power density of 136.1 mW cm−2, a high specific capacity of 808.3 mAh gZn−1, and outstanding stability throughout >158 h of uninterrupted charge−discharge cycling. Theoretical calculations reveal that the non‐homogeneous interface can introduce more carriers and altered electronic structures to refine intermediate adsorption reactions, especially promoting O* formation, thereby enhancing electrocatalytic performance. This work demonstrates the importance of heterostructure interfacial modulation of electronic structure and enhancement of adsorption capacity in promoting the implementation of OER/ORR, ZABs, and related applications. FeNiCo|MnGaOx heterostructure nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is synthesized using liquid‐phase reduction and H2 calcination approach. Compared to its individual component, such FeNiCo|MnGaOx/CNT shows high synergistic effect, low impedance, and modulated electronic structure, leading to superior bifunctional catalytic performance with an over potential of 255 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and half‐wave potential of 0.824V.