Sourcing the merits of 3D integrated air cathodes for highperformance Zn-air batteries by bubble pump consumption chronoamperometry

Zn-air batteries(ZABs)as a potential energy conversion system suffer from low power density(typically≤200 mW·cm^(−2)).Recently,three-dimensional(3D)integrated air cathodes have demonstrated promising performance over traditional twodimensional(2D)plane ones,which is ascribed to enriched active sites and enhanced diffusion,but without experimental evidence.Herein,we applied a bubble pump consumption chronoamperometry(BPCC)method to quantitatively identify the gas diffusion coefficient(D)and effective catalytic sites density(ρEC)of the integrated air cathodes for ZABs.Furthermore,the D andρEC values can instruct consequent optimization on the growth of Co embedded N-doped carbon nanotubes(CoNCNTs)on carbon fiber paper(CFP)and aerophilicity tuning,giving 4 times D and 1.3 timesρEC over the conventional 2D Pt/C-CFP counterparts.As a result,using the CoNCNTs with half-wave potential of merely 0.78 V vs.RHE(Pt/C:0.89 V vs.RHE),the superaerophilic CoNCNTs-CFP cathode-based ZABs exhibited a superior peak power density of 245 mW·cm^(−2) over traditional 2D Pt/C-CFP counterparts,breaking the threshold of 200 mW·cm^(−2).This work reveals the intrinsic feature of the 3D integrated air cathodes by yielding exact D andρEC values,and demonstrates the feasibility of BPCC method for the optimization of integrated electrodes,bypassing trial-and-error strategy.

Regulating electronic structure of CoN_(4)with axial Co-S for promoting oxygen reduction and Zn-air battery performance

Regulating the coordination environment of transition-metal based materials in the axial direction with heteroatoms has shown great potential in boosting the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).The coordination configuration and the regulation method are pivotal and elusive.Here,we report a combined strategy of matrix-activization and controlled-induction to modify the CoN_(4)site by axial coordination of Co-S(Co1N_(4)-S_(1)),which was validated by the aberration-corrected electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis.The optimal Co1N_(4)-S_(1)exhibits an excellent alkaline ORR activity,according to the half-wave potential(0.897 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)),Tafel slope(24.67 mV/dec),and kinetic current density.Moreover,the Co1N_(4)-S_(1)based Zn-air battery displays a high power density of 187.55 mW/cm^(2)and an outstanding charge-discharge cycling stability for 160 h,demonstrating the promising application potential.Theoretical calculations indicate that the better regulation of CoN_(4)on electronic structure and thus the highly efficient ORR performance can be achieved by axial Co-S.

Phosphorus induced activity-enhancement of Fe-N-C catalysts for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Fe-N-C materials with atomically dispersed Fe–N_(4) sites could tolerate the poisoning of phosphate,is regarded as the most promising alternative to costly Pt-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(HT-PEMFCs).However,they still face the critical issue of insufficient activity in phosphoric acid.Herein,we demonstrate a P-doping strategy to increase the activity of Fe-N-C catalyst via a feasible one-pot method.X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron microscopy with atomic resolution indicated that the P atom is bonded with the N in Fe–N_(4) site through C atoms.The as prepared Fe-NCP catalyst shows a half-wave potential of 0.75 V(vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE),0.1 M H_(3)PO_(4)),which is 60 and 40 mV higher than that of Fe-NC and commercial Pt/C catalysts,respectively.More importantly,the Fe-NCP catalyst could deliver a peak power density of 357 mW·cm^(−2)in a high temperature fuel cell(160℃),exceeding the non-noble-metal catalysts ever reported.The enhancement of activity is attributed to the increasing charge density and poisoning tolerance of Fe–N_(4) caused by neighboring P.This work not only promotes the practical application of Fe-N-C materials in HT-PEMFCs,but also provides a feasible P-doping method for regulating the structure of single atom site.