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Sandwich‐Like Reduced Graphene Oxide/Carbon Black/Amorphous Cobalt Borate Nanocomposites as Bifunctional Cathode Electrocatalyst in Rechargeable Zinc‐Air Batteries
Author(s) -
Sun Jiqing,
Yang Dongjiang,
Lowe Sean,
Zhang Lijuan,
Wang Yazhou,
Zhao Shenlong,
Liu Porun,
Wang Yun,
Tang Zhiyong,
Zhao Huijun,
Yao Xiangdong
Publication year - 2018
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.201801495
Subject(s) - materials science , electrocatalyst , bifunctional , graphene , nanocomposite , oxygen evolution , carbon black , cobalt , oxide , cobalt oxide , noble metal , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , electrochemistry , metal , catalysis , composite material , electrode , metallurgy , organic chemistry , chemistry , natural rubber , engineering
The inhibitively high cost of the noble‐metal‐containing materials has become a major obstacle for the large‐scale application of rechargeable zinc‐air batteries (ZABs). To solve this problem in a practical way, a green and scalable method to prepare sandwich‐like reduced graphene oxide /carbon black/amorphous cobalt borate nanocomposites (rGO/CB/Co‐B i ) is reported. These composites are shown to be a highly efficient and robust bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this system, the spontaneous assembly of the GO sheet and CB nanoparticles is demonstrated by noncovalent interactions to build the sandwich‐like structure with hierarchical pore distribution. The impressive ORR and OER activities of the obtained nanocomposite are attributed to the high conductivity, large surface area, and the hierarchically porous channels. With room‐temperature synthesis and significant activities shown in the demonstrative battery test, the prepared nanocomposite can potentially serve as an alternative for noble‐metal‐based rechargeable ZAB cathode materials.