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Crosslinked Carbon Nanotube Aerogel Films Decorated with Cobalt Oxides for Flexible Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries
Author(s) -
Zeng Sha,
Chen Hongyuan,
Wang Han,
Tong Xiao,
Chen Minghai,
Di Jiangtao,
Li Qingwen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201700518
Subject(s) - aerogel , materials science , carbon nanotube , current collector , electrode , cobalt , catalysis , bifunctional , spinel , chemical engineering , oxygen evolution , composite number , nanoparticle , carbon fibers , nanotechnology , composite material , electrochemistry , chemistry , metallurgy , electrolyte , organic chemistry , engineering
Air electrodes with high catalytic activity are of great importance for rechargeable zinc–air batteries. Herein, a flexible, binder‐free composite air electrode for zinc–air batteries is reported, which utilizes a lightweight, conductive, and crosslinked aerogel film of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functioned as a 3D catalyst‐supporting scaffold for bifunctional cobalt (II/III) oxides and as a current collector. The composite electrode shows high catalytic activities for both oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, resulting from the synergistic effect of nitrogen‐doped CNTs and spinel Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles. Solid‐state Zn–air batteries assembled using such free‐standing air electrodes (without the need of additional current collectors) are bendable and show low resistances, low charge/discharge overpotentials, and a high cyclic stability.