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Scalable Synthesis of Fe/N‐Doped Porous Carbon Nanotube Frameworks for Aqueous Zn–Air Batteries
Author(s) -
Li Fuyun,
Li Heng,
Liu Xiaoxiao,
Wang Libin,
Lu Yue,
Hu Xianluo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201804643
Subject(s) - materials science , cathode , nanotechnology , aqueous solution , carbon nanotube , energy storage , fabrication , porosity , chemical engineering , doping , current density , power density , optoelectronics , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , power (physics) , medicine , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , quantum mechanics , engineering
Aqueous Zn–air batteries are emerging to be ideal next‐generation energy‐storage devices with high safety and high energy/power densities. However, the rational design and fabrication of low‐cost, highly efficient, and durable electrocatalysts on the cathode side remain highly desired. Herein, template‐assisted, scalable Fe‐implanted N‐doped porous carbon nanotube networks (Fe–N–CNNs) have been synthesized based on an environmentally friendly template hydroxyapatite nanowires (HAP NWs). Thanks to the hierarchical meso /micropores, high specific surface area, and abundant active sites, the optimized Fe–N–CNNs exhibit excellent oxygen reduction activity. Furthermore, the Zn–air batteries based on the Fe–N–CNNs cathode deliver a high discharge voltage of 1.27 V at a current density of 20 mA cm −2 and a large peak power density of 202.2 mW cm −2 . More far‐reaching, this HAP‐based template strategy opens a new avenue toward the mass production of efficient, cost‐effective electrocatalysts, and the Fe–N–CNNs with hollow interiors are expected to extend their other potential uses in energy storage, molecular sieves, adsorbents, and biomedical engineering.