Transition metal phosphide-based oxygen electrocatalysts for aqueous zinc-air batteries.

Electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are emerging as promising energy storage devices in the post-lithium era, leveraging the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the air cathodes. Efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts, capable of catalyzing both the ORR and OER, are essential for the operation of rechargeable ZABs. Traditional Pt- and RuO/IrO-based catalysts are not ideal, as they lack sufficient bifunctional ORR and OER activity, exhibit limited long-term durability, require high overpotentials and are expensive.

Cyano-Bridged Bimetallic Polymer Network-Derived PdFe Intermetallic for Aqueous Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries.

The rational design and synthesis of bifunctionally active and durable oxygen electrocatalysts have garnered significant attention for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. Intermetallic nanostructures are particularly promising for these applications due to their unique catalytic properties and exceptional durability. In this study, we present a fascinating synthetic approach for the direct synthesis of a bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst based on nitrogen-doped carbon-encapsulated ordered PdFe (o-PdFe@NC) intermetallic, using a cyano-bridged bimetallic single-source precursor tailored for aqueous rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs).

Advanced Oxygen Electrocatalyst for Air-Breathing Electrode in Zn-Air Batteries.

The electrochemical reduction of oxygen to water and the evolution of oxygen from water are two important electrode reactions extensively studied for the development of electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies based on oxygen electrocatalysis. The development of an inexpensive, highly active, and durable nonprecious-metal-based oxygen electrocatalyst is indispensable for emerging energy technologies, including anion exchange membrane fuel cells, metal-air batteries (MABs), water electrolyzers, etc. The activity of an oxygen electrocatalyst largely decides the overall energy storage performance of these devices.