Design Principles and Mechanistic Understandings of Non-Noble-Metal Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Zinc-Air Batteries

Zinc-air batteries(ZABs)are promising energy storage systems because of high theoretical energy density,safety,low cost,and abundance of zinc.However,the slow multi-step reaction of oxygen and heavy reliance on noble-metal catalysts hinder the practical applications of ZABs.Therefore,feasible and advanced non-noble-metal elec-trocatalysts for air cathodes need to be identified to promote the oxygen catalytic reaction.In this review,we initially introduced the advancement of ZABs in the past two decades and provided an overview of key developments in this field.Then,we discussed the work-ing mechanism and the design of bifunctional electrocatalysts from the perspective of morphology design,crystal structure tuning,interface strategy,and atomic engineering.We also included theoretical studies,machine learning,and advanced characterization technologies to provide a comprehensive understanding of the structure-performance relationship of electrocatalysts and the reaction pathways of the oxygen redox reactions.Finally,we discussed the challenges and prospects related to designing advanced non-noble-metal bifunctional electrocatalysts for ZABs.

Defects and morphology engineering for constructing V_(s)-Ni_(3)S_(2)@V_(s)-Cu_(2)S nanotube heterojunction arrays toward efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting

The development of highly active,stable and inexpensive electrocatalysts for hydrogen production by defects and morphology engineering remains a great challenge.Herein,S vacancies-rich Ni_(3)S_(2)@Cu_(2)S nan-otube heterojunction arrays were in-situ grown on copper foam(V_(s)-Ni_(3)S_(2)@V_(s)-Cu_(2)S NHAs/CF)for efficient electrocatalytic overall water splitting.With the merits of nanotube arrays and efficient electronic mod-ulation drived by the OD vacancy defect and 2D heterojunction defect,the resultant V_(s)-Ni_(3)S_(2)@V_(s)-Cu_(2)S NHAs/CF electrocatalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity with a low overpotential of 47 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)at 10 mA cm^(-2) current density,and 263 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)at 50 mA cm^(-2) current density,as well as a cell voltage of 1.48 V at 10 mA cm^(-2).Moreover,the nanotube heterojunction arrays endows V_(s)-Ni_(3)S_(2)@V_(s)-Cu_(2)S NHAs/CF with outstanding stability in long-term catalytic processes,as confirmed by the continuous chronopotentiom-etry tests at current densities of 10 mA cm^(-2) for 100 h.

Interfacial modulation of bifunctional electrolyte additive engineering for dendrite-free and robust lithium metal anode

Anode materials for rechargeable electric car batteries are obtained from Li-metal owing to their extremely high specific capacity and low redox potential.Unfortunately,safety concerns related to dendrite formation on the anode surface caused by the uneven distribution of Li-ions during the discharge process interfere with the use of Li-metal in industrial batteries.In this study,methyl vinyl sulfone(MVS),a sulfone-based functional electrolyte additive,is used in an additive engineering strategy to control Lielectrolyte interactions and address the aforementioned problems.Li dendrite growth may be restricted,and transition metal degradation on the surface of the cathode can be reduced by the MVS-derived functional electrolyte additive interfacial layer.The electrochemical performance of an ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate(EC/DMC)+1 wt% MVS Li-metal anode of a Li||Li symmetric cell exhibits remarkable cycle stability,maintaining a low overvoltage for over 750 h at 1 mA cm^(-2),and capacity of 1 mA h cm^(-2).Additionally,LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(NCM811) full cells with the MVS additive exhibit enhanced electrochemical stability for 250 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g^(-1).This study provides an innovative approach for stabilizing the metal-electrolyte interfacial layer that may be used for practical applications in metal-based rechargeable batteries.

The component-activity interrelationship of cobalt-based bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting:Strategies and performance

Cobalt-based electrocatalysts take advantage of potentially harmonizable microstructure and flexible coupling effects compared to commercial noble metal-based catalytic materials.However,conventional water electrolysis systems based on cobalt-based monofunctional hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)or oxygen evolution reaction(OER)catalysts have certain shortcomings in terms of resource utilization and universality.In contrast,cobalt-based bifunctional catalysts(CBCs)have attracted much attention in recent years for overall water splitting systems because of their practicality and reduced preparation cost of electrolyzer.This review aims to address the latest development in CBCs for total hydrolysis.The main modification strategies of CBCs are systematically classified in water electrolysis to provide an overview of how to regulate their morphology and electronic configuration.Then,the catalytic performance of CBCs in total-hydrolysis is summarized according to the types of cobalt-based phosphides,sulfides and oxides,and the mechanism of strengthened electrocatalytic ability is emphasized through combining experiments and theoretical calculations.Future efforts are finally suggested to focus on exploring the dynamic conversion of reaction intermediates and building near-industrial CBCs,designing advanced CBC materials through micro-modulation,and addressing commercial applications.

Enhanced bifunctional oxygen electrochemical catalytic performance using La-doped CoFe_(2)O_(4)spinel supported by 3D-G for Zn-air batteries

The preparation of bifunctional catalysts for oxygen reduction(ORR)and oxygen evolution(OER)is crucial for Zn-air batteries.Here,we report a La doped CoFe_(2)O_(4) spinel catalyst supported on threedimensional graphene(3D-G),where La can facilitate electron transfer from Co to Fe,leading to increased electron cloud density in Fe and improved catalytic performance.The redshift of the G peak in the Raman spectra indicates the interaction between theπbond of 3D-G and d orbitals in La_(0.2)CoFe_(1.8)O_(4).La_(0.2)CoFe_(1.8)/3D-G exhibits superior ORR performance(E_(1/2)=0.86 V vs.RHE)and OER performance(E_(j=10)=1.55 V vs.RHE)to CoFe_(2)O_(4)/3D-G(E_(1/2)=0.831 V vs.RHE,E_(j=10)=1.603 V vs.RHE).Furthermore,it demonstrates excellent bifunctional oxygen catalytic performance while maintaining high power density and stability in liquid zinc-air batteries(ZABs)and flexible ZABs(F-ZABs).This work presents a viable strategy for utilizing rare earth element doped spinels to enhance oxygen catalyst and ZABs performance.

CuO/Co_(3)O_(4)Bifunctional Catalysts for Electrocatalytic 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Oxidation Coupled Cathodic Ammonia Production

The electrochemical coupling of biomass oxidation and nitrogen conversion presents a potential strategy for high value-added chemicals and nitrogen cycling.Herein,in this work,CuO/Co_(3)O_(4)with heterogeneous interface is successfully constructed as a bifunctional catalyst for the electrooxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and the electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia(NH_(3)).The open-circuit potential spontaneous experiment shows that more 5-hydroxymethylfurfural molecules are adsorbed in the Helmholtz layer of the CuO/Co_(3)O_(4)composite,which certifies that the CuO/Co_(3)O_(4)heterostructure is conducive to the kinetic adsorption of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.In situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further shows that CuO/Co_(3)O_(4)has faster reaction kinetics and lower reaction potential in oxygen evolution reaction and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural electrocatalytic oxidation.Moreover,CuO/Co_(3)O_(4)also has a good reduction effect on NO_(3)^(-).The ex-situ Raman spectroscopy shows that under the reduction potential,the metal oxide is reduced,and the generated Cu_(2)O can be used as a new active site for the reaction to promote the electrocatalytic conversion of NO_(3)^(-)to NH_(3) synthesis.This work provides valuable guidance for the synthesis of value-added chemicals by 5-hydroxymethylfurfural electrocatalytic oxidation coupled with NO_(3)^(-)while efficiently producing NH_(3).

Visible Light-Induced Photocatalysis:Self-Fenton Degradation of p-CIPhOH Over Graphitic Carbon Nitride by a Polyethylenimine Bifunctional Catalyst

Deep degradation of organic pollutants by sunlight-induced coupled photocatalytic and Fenton (photo-Fenton) reactions is of immense importance for water purification. In this work, we report a novel bifunctional catalyst (Fe-PEI-CN) by codoping graphitic carbon nitride (CN) with polyethyleneimine ethoxylated (PEI) and Fe species, which demonstrated high activity during p-chlorophenol (p-ClPhOH) degradation via H_(2)O_(2) from the photocatalytic process. The relationship between the catalytic efficiency and the structure was explored using diff erent characterization methods. The Fe modification of CN was achieved through Fe-N coordination, which ensured high dispersion of Fe species and strong stability against leaching during liquid- phase reactions. The Fe modification initiated the Fenton reaction by activating H_(2)O_(2) into ·OH radicals for deep degradation of p-ClPhOH. In addition, it eff ectively promoted light absorption and photoelectron-hole (e-h ^(+) ) separation, corresponding to improved photocatalytic activity. On the other hand, PEI could significantly improve the ability of CN to generate H_(2)O_(2) through visible light photocatalysis. The maximum H_(2)O_(2) yield reached up to 102.6 μmol/L, which was 22 times higher than that of primitive CN. The cooperation of photocatalysis and the self-Fenton reaction has led to high-activity mineralizing organic pollutants with strong durability, indicating good potential for practical application in wastewater treatment.

Optimizing band structure of CoP nanoparticles via rich-defect carbon shell toward bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

Transition-metal phosphides(TMPs)with high catalytic activity are widely used in the design of electrodes for water splitting.However,a major challenge is how to achieve the trade-off between activity and stability of TMPs.Herein,a novel method for synthesizing CoP nanoparticles encapsu-lated in a rich-defect carbon shell(CoP/DCS)is developed through the self-assembly of modified polycyclic aromatic molecules.The graft and removal of high-activity C-N bonds of aromatic molecules render the controllable design of crystallite defects of carbon shell.The density functional theory calculation indicates that the carbon defects with unpaired electrons could effectively tailor the band structure of CoP.Benefiting from the improved activity and corrosion resistance,the CoP/DCS delivers outstanding difunctional hydrogen evolution reaction(88 mV)and oxygen evolution reaction(251 mV)performances at 10 mA cm^(−2)current density.Furthermore,the coupled water electrolyzer with CoP/DCS as both the cathode and anode presents ultralow cell voltages of 1.49 V to achieve 10 mA cm^(−2)with long-time stability.This strategy to improve TMPs electrocatalyst with rich-DCS and heterogeneous structure will inspire the design of other transition metal compound electrocatalysts for water splitting.

Strengthening absorption ability of Co-N-C as efficient bifunctional oxygen catalyst by modulating the d band center using MoC

Co-N-C is a promising oxygen electrochemical catalyst due to its high stability and good durability.However,due to the limited adsorption ability improvement for oxygen-containing intermediates,it usually exhibits inadequate catalytic activity with 2-electron pathway and high selectivity of hydrogen peroxide.Herein,the adsorption of Co-N-C to these intermediates is modulated by constructing heterostructures using transition metals and their derivatives based on d-band theory.The heterostructured nanobelts with MoC core and pomegranate-like carbon shell consisting of Co nanoparticles and N dopant(MoC/Co-N-C)are engineered to successfully modulate the d band center of active Co-N-C sites,resulting in a remarkably enhanced electrocatalysis performance.The optimally performing MoC/Co-N-C exhibits outstanding bi-catalytic activity and stability for the oxygen electrochemistry,featuring a high wave-half potential of 0.865 V for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and low overpotential of 370 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)at 10 mA cm^(-2).The zinc air batteries with the MoC/Co-N-C catalyst demonstrate a large power density of 180 mW cm^(-2)and a long cycling lifespan(2000 cycles).The density functional theory calculations with Hubbard correction(DFT+U)reveal the electron transferring from Co to Mo atoms that effectively modulate the d band center of the active Co sites and achieve optimum adsorption ability with"single site double adsorption"mode.

Compositional engineering of HKUST-1/sulfidized NiMn-LDH on functionalized MWCNTs as remarkable bifunctional electrocatalysts for water splitting

Water-splitting reactions such as the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)typically require expensive noble metal-based electrocatalysts.This has motivated researchers to develop novel,cost-effective electrocatalytic systems.In this study,a new multicomponent nanocomposite was assembled by combining functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes,a Cu-based metal–organic framework(MOF)(HKUST-1 or HK),and a sulfidized NiMn-layered double hydroxide(NiMn-S).The resulting nanocomposite,abbreviated as MW/HK/NiMn-S,features a unique architecture,high porosity,numerous electroactive Cu/Ni/Mn sites,fast charge transfer,excellent structural stability,and conductivity.At a current density of 10 mA cm-2,this dual-function electrocatalyst shows remarkable performance,with ultralow overpotential values of 163 mV(OER)or 73 mV(HER),as well as low Tafel slopes(57 and 75 mV dec-1,respectively).Additionally,its high turnover frequency values(4.43 s-1 for OER;3.96 s-1 for HER)are significantly superior to those of standard noble metal-based Pt/C and IrO2 systems.The synergistic effect of the nanocomposite's different components is responsible for its enhanced electrocatalytic performance.A density functional theory study revealed that the multi-interface and multicomponent heterostructure contribute to increased electrical conductivity and decreased energy barrier,resulting in superior electrocatalytic HER/OER activity.This study presents a novel vision for designing advanced electrocatalysts with superior performance in water splitting.Various composites have been utilized in water-splitting applications.This study investigates the use of the MW/HK/NiMn-S electrocatalyst for water splitting for the first time to indicate the synergistic effect between carbon-based materials along with layered double hydroxide compounds and porous compounds of MOF.The unique features of each component in this composite can be an interesting topic in the field of water splitting.

Constructing P-CoMoO_(4)@NiCoP heterostructure nanoarrays on Ni foam as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

Improving catalytic activity and durabilty through the structural and compositional development of bifunctional electrocatalysts with low cost,high activity and stability is a challenging issue in electrochemical water splitting.Herein,we report the fabrication of heterostructured P-CoMoO_(4)@NiCoP on a Ni foam substrate through interface engineering,by adjusting its composition and architecture.Benefitting from the tailored electronic structure and exposed active sites,the heterostructured P-CoMoO_(4)@NiCoP/NF arrays can be coordinated to boost the overall water splitting.In addition,the superhydrophilic and superaerophobic properties of P-CoMoO_(4)@NiCoP/NF make it conducive to water dissociation and bubble separation in the electrocatalytic process.The heterostructured PCoMoO_(4)@NiCoP/NF exhibits excellent bifunctional electrocatalysis activity with a low overpotential of 66 mV at 10 mA cm^(-2) for HER and 252 mV at 100 mA cm^(-2) for OER.Only 1.62 V potential is required to deliver 20 mA cm^(-2) in a two-electrode electrolysis system,providing a decent overall water splitting performance.The rational construction of the heterostructure makes it possible to regulate the electronic structures and active sites of the electrocatalysts to promote their catalytic activity.

A benzenesulfonic acid-modified organic polymer monolithic column with reversed-phase/hydrophilic bifunctional selectivity for capillary electrochromatography

Here,a styrene-based polymer monolithic column poly(VBS-co-TAT-co-AHM)with reversed-phase/hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography(RPLC/HILIC)bifunctional separation mode was success-fully prepared for capillary electrochromatography by the in situ polymerization of sodium p-styrene sulfonate(VBS)with cross-linkers 3-(acryloyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate(AHM)and 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine(TAT).The preparation conditions of the monolith were optimized.The morphology and formation of the poly(VBS-co-TAT-co-AHM)monolith were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR).The separation perfor-mances of the monolith were evaluated systematically.It should be noted that the incorporation of VBS functional monomer can provideπ-πinteractions,hydrophilic interactions,and ion-exchange in-teractions.Hence,the prepared poly(VBS-co-TAT-co-AHM)monolith can achieve efficient separation of thiourea compounds,benzene series,phenol compounds,aniline compounds and sulfonamides in RPLC or HILIC separation mode.The largest theoretical plate number for N,N0-dimethylthiourea reached 1.7×10^(5)plates/m.In addition,the poly(VBS-co-TAT-co-AHM)monolithic column showed excellent reproducibility and stability.This novel monolithic column has great application value and potential in capillary electrochromatography(CEC).

Manipulating oxygenate adsorption on N-doped carbon by coupling with CoSn alloy for bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst

Highly active bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts accelerate the development of high-performance Zn-air battery,but suffer from the mismatched activities of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and oxygen reduced reaction(ORR).Herein,highly integrated bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts,cobalt-tin alloys coated by nitrogen doped carbon(CoSn@NC)are prepared by MOFs-derived method.In this hybrid catalyst,the binary CoSn nanoalloys mainly contribute to highly active OER process while the Co(or Sn)-N-C serves as ORR active sites.Rational interaction between CoSn and NC donates more rapid reaction kinetics than Pt/C(ORR)and IrO_(2)(OER).Such CoSn@NC holds a promise as air-cathode electrocatalyst in Zn-air battery,superior to Pt/C+IrO_(2)catalyst.First-principles calculations predict that CoSn alloys can upgrade charge redistribution on NC and promote the transfer to reactants,thus optimizing the adsorption strength of oxygen-containing intermediates to boost the overall reactivity.The tuning of oxygenate adsorption by interactions between alloy and heteroatom-doped carbon can guide the design of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.

The Preparation of Nanosized Pd/ZSM-23 Bifunctional Catalysts for n-Hexadecane Hydroisomerization by Employing PHMB as the Growth Modifi er

The development of highly effective metal-zeolite bifunctional catalysts for the hydroisomerization of n-alkanes is a paramount strategy to produce second-generation biofuels with high quality.In this study,polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride(PHMB)is precisely added to the initial gel to synthesize nanosized ZSM-23 zeolites(Z23-x PH).Due to orientation adsorption and steric hindrance effects of PHMB,each sample of Z23-x PH demonstrates enhanced mesoporosity in comparison with the conventional Z23-C zeolite.Furthermore,the Bronsted acid density of the Z23-x PH samples is also signifi cantly reduced due to a reduction in the distribution of framework Al at T2-T5 sites.The corresponding Pd/23-C and Pd/Z23-x PH bifunctional catalysts with 0.5 wt%Pd loading for n-hexadecane hydroisomerization are prepared by incorporating ZSM-23 zeolites as acid supports.According to the catalytic test results,the suitable addition of PHMB can effectively promote the iso-hexadecane yield.The Pd/Z23-2PH catalyst with an n_(PHMB)/n(_Si)molar ratio of 0.002 demonstrates the highest maximum iso-hexadecane yield of 74.1%at an n-hexadecane conversion of 88.3%.Therefore,the employment of PHMB has provided a simple route for the development of highly effective Pd/ZSM-23 catalysts for n-alkane hydroisomerization.

Bimetallic ZIFs-derived electrospun carbon nanofiber membrane as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst for rechargeable zinc-air battery

The recharged zinc-air battery(ZAB) has drawn significant attention owing to increasing requirement for energy conversion and storage devices.Fabricating the efficient bifunctional oxygen catalyst using a convenient strategy is vitally important for the rechargeable ZAB.In this study,the bimetallic ZIFs-containing electrospun(ES) carbon nanofibers membrane with hierarchically porous structure was prepared by coaxial electrospinning and carbonization process,which was expected to be a bifunctional electrocatalyst for ZABs.Owing to the formed dual single-atomic sites of Co-N_(4) and Zn-N_(4),the obtained ES-Co/ZnCNZIFexhibited the preferable performance toward oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) with E1/2of 0.857 V and JLof 5.52 mA cm^(-2),which were more than Pt/C.Meanwhile,it exhibited a marked oxygen evolution reaction(OER) property with overpotential of 462 mV due to the agglomerated metallic Co nanoparticles.Furthermore,the ZAB based on the ES-Co/Zn-CNZIFcarbon nanofibers membranes delivered peak power density of 215 mW cm^(-2),specific capacity of 802.6 mA h g^(-1),and exceptional cycling stability,far larger than Pt/C+RuO_(2)-based ZABs.A solid-state ZAB based on ES-Co/Zn-CNZIFshowed better flexibility and stability with different bending angles.

Conversion of Bio-syngas to Liquid Hydrocarbon over CuCoMn-Zeolite Bifunctional Catalysts

A series of bifunctional catalysts composed of a component for higher alcohol synthesis （Cu-CoMn oxides, CCM） and an acidic zeolite （SAPO-34, ZSM-5, Y, MCM-41） were prepared for production of liquid hydrocarbon directly from a bio-syngas through a one-stage pro-cess. The effects of zeolite type, zeolite content, Si/Al ratio and preparation method on catalyst texture and its reaction performance were investigated. Higher selectivities and yields of liquid products were obtained by using bifunctional catalysts. The yields of liquid hydrocarbons decreased in the order CCM-ZSM-5〉CCM-SAPO-34〉CCM-Y〉CCM-MCM-41. CCM-ZSM-5 （20wt%, Si/Al=100） prepared by coprecipitation method displayed the optimal catalytic performance with the highest CO conversion （76%） and yield of liquid products （30%）. The catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption, NH3-TPD, XRD, and H2-TPR analysis. The results showed that higher speci c surface areas and pore volumes of bifunctional catalysts were achieved by adding zeolites into CuCoMn precursors. Medium pore dimension and moderate acidity in CCM-ZSM-5 were observed, which proba-bly resulted in its excellent reaction performance. Additionally, a higher number of weaker acid sites （weak and/or medium acid sites） were formed by increasing ZSM-5 content in CCM-ZSM-5 or decreasing Si/Al ratio in ZSM-5. It was also seen that metal dispersion was higher and reducibility of metal ions was easier on the CCM-ZSM-5 catalyst prepared by coprecipitation. The higher alcohols-to-hydrocarbon process provides a promising route to hydrocarbon fuels via higher alcohols from syngas or biobased feedstocks.

In Situ Coupling Strategy for Anchoring Monodisperse Co_9S_8 Nanoparticles on S and N Dual?Doped Graphene as a Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Rechargeable Zn–Air Battery

An in situ coupling strategy to prepare Co_9S_8/S and N dual?doped graphene composite(Co_9S_8/NSG) has been proposed. The key point of this strategy is the function?oriented design of organic compounds. Herein, cobalt porphyrin derivatives with sulfo groups are employed as not only the coupling agents to form and anchor Co_9S_8 on the graphene in situ, but also the heteroatom?doped agent to generate S and N dual?doped graphene. The tight coupling of multiple active sites endows the composite materials with fast electrochemical kinetics and excellent stability for both oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction(OER). The obtained electrocatalyst exhibits better activity parameter(ΔE = 0.82 V) and smaller Tafel slope(47.7 mV dec^(-1) for ORR and 69.2 mV dec^(-1) for OER) than commercially available Pt/C and RuO_2. Most importantly, as electrocatalyst for rechargeable Zn–air battery, Co_9S_8/NSG displays low charge–discharge voltage gap and outstanding long?term cycle stability over 138 h compared to Pt/C–RuO_2. To further broaden its application scope, a homemade all?solid?state Zn–air battery is also prepared, which displays good charge–discharge performance and cycle performance. The function?oriented design of N_4?metallomacrocycle derivatives might open new avenues to strategic construction of high?performance and long?life multifunctional electrocatalysts for wider electro?chemical energy applications.

Electric-Field-Treated Ni/Co_(3)O_(4) Film as High-Performance Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Efficient Overall Water Splitting

Rational design of bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)with excellent activity and stability is of great significance,since overall water splitting is a promising technology for sustainable conversion of clean energy.However,most electrocatalysts do not simultaneously possess optimal HER/OER activities and their electrical conductivities are intrinsically low,which limit the development of overall water splitting.In this paper,a strategy of electric field treatment is proposed and applied to Ni/Co_(3)O_(4) film to develop a novel bifunctional electrocatalyst.After treated by electric field,the conductive channels consisting of oxygen vacancies are formed in the Co_(3)O_(4) film,which remarkably reduces the resistance of the system by almost 2×10^(4) times.Meanwhile,the surface Ni metal electrode is partially oxidized to nickel oxide,which enhances the catalytic activity.The electric-field-treated Ni/Co_(3)O_(4) material exhibits super outstanding performance of HER,OER,and overall water splitting,and the catalytic activity is significantly superior to the state-of-the-art noble metal catalysts(Pt/C,RuO_(2),and RuO_(2)‖Pt/C couple).This work provides an effective and feasible method for the development of novel and efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst,which is also promising for wide use in the field of catalysis.

Bifunctional electrocatalysts for rechargeable Zn-air batteries

Zn-air batteries have attracted extensive attention for their unique features including high energy density,safety,low cost and environmental friendliness.However,due to their poor chargeability and low efficiency,the practical application remains a challenge.The main obstacles are the intrinsic slow reaction kinetics on air cathodes,including oxygen reduction reaction during the discharging process and oxygen evolution reaction during the recharging process.Searching for efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is key to solve these problems.In this review,the configuration and fundamental oxygen electrochemical reactions on air cathodes are briefly introduced for Zn-air batteries first.Then,the latest bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts are summarized in detail.Finally,the perspectives are provided for the future investigations on bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.

Micro-nanostructural designs of bifunctional electrocatalysts for metal-air batteries

Water-based rechargeable metal-air batteries play an important role in the storage and conversion of renewable electric energy.However,the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)have limited the practical application of rechargeable metal-air batteries.Most of reviews were focused on single functional electrocatalysts while few on bifunctional electrocatalysts.It is indispensable but challenging to design a bifunctional electrocatalyst that is active and stable to the two reactions.Recently,attempts to develop high active bifunctional electrocatalysts for both ORR and OER increase rapidly.Much work is focused on the micro-nano design of advanced structures to improve the performance of bifunctional electrocatalyst.Transition-metal materials,carbon materials and composite materials,and the methods developed to prepare micro-nano structures,such as electrochemical methods,chemical vapor deposition,hydrothermal methods and template methods are reported in literatures.Additionally,many strategies,such as adjustments of electronic structures,oxygen defects,metal-oxygen bonds,interfacial strain,nano composites,heteroatom doping etc.,have been used extensively to design bifunctional electrocatalysts.To well understand the achievements in the recent literatures,this review focuses on the micro-nano structural design of materials,and the related methods and strategies are classed into two groups for the improvement of intrinsic and apparent activities.The fine adjustment of nano structures and an in-depth understanding of the reaction mechanism are also discussed briefly.