Molten-Salt Media Synthesis of N-Doped Carbon Tubes Containing Encapsulated Co Nanoparticles as a Bifunctional Air Cathode for Zinc-Air Batteries |
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Authors: | Qing Dong Hui Wang Prof Shan Ji Xuyun Wang Prof Zaiyong Mo Prof Vladimir Linkov Prof Rongfang Wang |
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Institution: | 1. State Key Laboratory Base for Eco-Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of, Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042 P. R. China;2. College of Biological, Chemical Science and Chemical Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001 P. R. China;3. Guangxi Key Lab of Agricultural Resources Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Chemistry and Food Science, Yulin Normal University, Yulin, 537000 P. R. China;4. South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, 7535 South Africa |
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Abstract: | Cost efficient bifunctional air cathodes possessing high electrocatalytic activity are of great importance for the development of secondary Zn-air batteries. In this work, cobalt nanoparticles are encapsulated within a 3D N-doped open network of carbon tubes (Co@N-CNTs) by a molten-salt synthesis procedure conducted at a high temperature. Physical characterization demonstrates that Co@N-CNTs are comprised of Co particle inserted carbon tubes with mesoporous tube walls, providing significant active surface area for electrochemical reactions. High electrocatalytic activity of Co@N-CNTs towards both oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions is due to its well-developed active surface and a synergistic effect between N-doped carbon and Co nanoparticles. Both primary and secondary Zn-air battery cells assembled using Co@N-CNTs as an air cathode show higher electrochemical performance than similar cells containing commercial Pt/C and Pt/C +RuO2, making the newly developed material a promising alternative to existing metal-based air cathodes. |
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Keywords: | Co nanoparticle N-doped carbon tube oxygen evolution reaction oxygen reduction reaction zinc-air battery |
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