Issue

Vol. 13 (2021)

Interface Engineering of CoS/CoO@N-Doped Graphene Nanocomposite for High-Performance Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-020-00526-x
Yuhui Tian
Institute for Energy Research, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, People’s Republic of China
Li Xu
Institute for Energy Research, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, People’s Republic of China
Meng Li
Centre for Clean Environment and Energy, School of Environment and Science, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland 4222, Australia
Ding Yuan
Institute for Energy Research, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, People’s Republic of China
Xianhu Liu
Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold (Zhengzhou University), Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China
Junchao Qian
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Environment Functional Materials, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, People’s Republic of China
Yuhai Dou
Centre for Clean Environment and Energy, School of Environment and Science, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland 4222, Australia
Jingxia Qiu
Institute for Energy Research, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, People’s Republic of China
Shanqing Zhang
Institute for Energy Research, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Shanqing Zhang

s.zhang@griffith.edu.au

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 13 (2021), Article Number: 3

Abstract

Low cost and green fabrication of high-performance electrocatalysts with earth-abundant resources for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are crucial for the large-scale application of rechargeable Zn–air batteries (ZABs). In this work, our density functional theory calculations on the electrocatalyst suggest that the rational construction of interfacial structure can induce local charge redistribution, improve the electronic conductivity and enhance the catalyst stability. In order to realize such a structure, we spatially immobilize heterogeneous CoS/CoO nanocrystals onto N-doped graphene to synthesize a bifunctional electrocatalyst (CoS/CoO@NGNs). The optimization of the composition, interfacial structure and conductivity of the electrocatalyst is conducted to achieve bifunctional catalytic activity and deliver outstanding efficiency and stability for both ORR and OER. The aqueous ZAB with the as-prepared CoS/CoO@NGNs cathode displays a high maximum power density of 137.8 mW cm−2, a specific capacity of 723.9 mAh g−1 and excellent cycling stability (continuous operating for 100 h) with a high round-trip efficiency. In addition, the assembled quasi-solid-state ZAB also exhibits outstanding mechanical flexibility besides high battery performances, showing great potential for applications in flexible and wearable electronic devices.


Highlights:


1 Interface engineering of heterogeneous CoS/CoO nanocrystals and N-doped graphene composite facilitates high-performance oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction.
2 Density functional theory calculations and experimental results confirm the enhanced electrocatalytic performances via the proposed interface engineering.
3 The bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst exhibits excellent performances in rechargeable Zn–air batteries.

Keywords

Cobalt sulfide/oxide Heterostructure Interface Bifunctional electrocatalyst Rechargeable Zn–air battery
Tian, Yuhui, Li Xu, Meng Li, Ding Yuan, Xianhu Liu, Junchao Qian, Yuhai Dou, Jingxia Qiu, and Shanqing Zhang. 2020. “Interface Engineering of CoS/CoO@N-Doped Graphene Nanocomposite for High-Performance Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 13 (October):3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-020-00526-x.
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