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Ionic Polyimide Derived Porous Carbon Nanosheets as High‐Efficiency Oxygen Reduction Catalysts for Zn–Air Batteries
Author(s) -
Tu Kejun,
Zou Lingyi,
Yang Chongqing,
Su Yuezeng,
Lu Chenbao,
Zhu Jinhui,
Zhang Fan,
Ke Changchun,
Zhuang Xiaodong
Publication year - 2020
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.201904769
Subject(s) - materials science , heteroatom , limiting current , chemical engineering , carbonization , carbon fibers , porosity , catalysis , polyimide , ionic bonding , dopant , ionic conductivity , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , electrochemistry , electrode , doping , composite number , organic chemistry , composite material , chemistry , ion , scanning electron microscope , electrolyte , ring (chemistry) , optoelectronics , layer (electronics) , engineering
Two‐dimensional (2D) porous carbon nanosheets (2DPCs) have attracted great attention for their good porosity and long‐distance conductivity. Factors such as templates, precursors, and carbonization–activation methods, directly determine their performance. However, rational design and preparation of porous carbon materials with controlled 2D morphology and heteroatom dopants remains a challenge. Therefore, an ionic polyimide with both sp 2 ‐ and sp 3 ‐hybridized nitrogen atoms was prepared as a precursor for fabricating N‐doped hexagonal porous carbon nanosheets through a hard‐template approach. Because of the large surface area and efficient charge‐mass transport, the resulting activated 2D porous carbon nanosheets (2DPCs‐a) displayed promising electrocatalytic properties for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline and acidic media, such as ultralow half‐wave potential (0.83 vs. 0.84 V of Pt/C) and superior limiting current density (5.42 vs. 5.14 mA cm −2 of Pt/C). As air cathodes in Zn–air batteries, the as‐developed 2DPCs‐a exhibited long stability and high capacity (up to 614 mA h g −1 ), which are both higher than those of commercial Pt/C. This work provides a convenient method for controllable and scalable 2DPCs fabrication as well as new opportunities to develop high‐efficiency electrocatalysts for ORR and Zn–air batteries.