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NiFe Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles on Co,N‐Codoped Carbon Nanoframes as Efficient Bifunctional Catalysts for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries
Author(s) -
Wang Qing,
Shang Lu,
Shi Run,
Zhang Xin,
Zhao Yufei,
Waterhouse Geoffrey I. N.,
Wu LiZhu,
Tung ChenHo,
Zhang Tierui
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201700467
Subject(s) - bifunctional , electrocatalyst , overpotential , materials science , oxygen evolution , battery (electricity) , nanoparticle , hydroxide , catalysis , chemical engineering , zinc , bifunctional catalyst , electrode , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , electrochemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
The future large‐scale deployment of rechargeable zinc–air batteries requires the development of cheap, stable, and efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this work, a highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst is prepared by depositing 3–5 nm NiFe layered double hydroxide (NiFe‐LDH) nanoparticles on Co,N‐codoped carbon nanoframes (Co,N‐CNF). The NiFe‐LDH/Co,N‐CNF electrocatalyst displayed an OER overpotential of 0.312 V at 10 mA cm −2 and an ORR half‐wave potential of 0.790 V. The outstanding performance of the electrocatalyst is attributable to the high electrical conductivity and excellent ORR activity of Co,N‐CNF, together with the strong anchoring of 3–5 nm NiFe‐LDH nanoparticles, which preserves active sites. Inspired by the excellent OER and ORR performance of NiFe‐LDH/Co,N‐CNF, a prototype rechargeable zinc–air battery is developed. The battery exhibited a low discharge–charge voltage gap (1.0 V at 25 mA cm −2 ) and long‐term cycling durability (over 80 h), and superior overall performance to a counterpart battery constructed using a mixture of IrO 2 and Pt/C as the cathode. The strategy developed here can easily be adapted to synthesize other bifunctional CNF‐based hybrid electrodes for ORR and OER, providing a practical route to more efficient rechargeable zinc–air batteries.