Efficient and affordable electrocatalysts for reversible oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions(ORR and OER,respectively)are highly sought-after for use in rechargeable metal-air batteries.However,the constru...Efficient and affordable electrocatalysts for reversible oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions(ORR and OER,respectively)are highly sought-after for use in rechargeable metal-air batteries.However,the construction of high-performance electrocatalysts that possess both largely accessible active sites and superior ORR/OER intrinsic activities is challenging.Herein,we report the design and successful preparation of a 3D hierarchically porous graphene framework with interconnected interlayer macropores and in-plane mesopores,enriched with pyridinic-nitrogen-cobalt(pyri-N-Co)active sites,namely,CoFe/3D-NLG.The pyri-N-Co bonding significantly accelerates sluggish oxygen electrocatalysis kinetics,in turn substantially improving the intrinsic ORR/OER activities per active site,while copious interlayer macropores and in-plane mesopores enable ultra-efficient mass transfer throughout the graphene architecture,thus ensuring sufficient exposure of accessible pyri-N-Co active sites to the reagents.Such a robust catalyst structure endows CoFe/3D-NLG with a remarkably enhanced reversible oxygen electrocatalysis performance,with the ORR half-wave potential identical to that of the benchmark Pt/C catalyst,and OER activity far surpassing that of the noble-metal-based RuO2 catalyst.Moreover,when employed as an air electrode for a rechargeable Zn-air battery,CoFe/3D-NLG manifests an exceedingly high open-circuit voltage(1.56 V),high peak power density(213 mW cm^(–2)),ultra-low charge/discharge voltage(0.63 V),and excellent charge/discharge cycling stability,outperforming state-of-the-art noble-metal electrocatalysts.展开更多
Simple synthesis of multifunctional electrocatalysts with plentiful active sites from earth-abundant materials is especially fascinating. Here, N-doped defective carbon with trace Co (1.5 wt%) was prepared via a sca...Simple synthesis of multifunctional electrocatalysts with plentiful active sites from earth-abundant materials is especially fascinating. Here, N-doped defective carbon with trace Co (1.5 wt%) was prepared via a scalable one pot solid pyrolysis process. The sample exhibits efficient bifunctional OER/ORR activiW in alkaline, mainly ascribed to the unique micro-mesoporous structure (1-3 nm), high population of graphitic-N doping (up to 49.0%), abundant defects and the encapsulated Co nanoparticles with graphitized carbon. The according rechargeahle liquid Zn-air batteries showed excellent performance (maximum power density of 154.0 mWcm-2: energy density of 773Wh kg -1 at 5 mAcm 2 and charging-discharging cycling stability over 100 cycles). As a proof-of-concept, the flexible, rechargeable all-solid-state Zn-air batteries were constructed, and displayed a maximum power density as high as 45.9 mW cm 2 among the top level of those reported previously.展开更多
The construction of transition metal-based catalysts with high activity and stability has been widely regarded as a promising method to replace the precious metal Pt for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Herein,we synthe...The construction of transition metal-based catalysts with high activity and stability has been widely regarded as a promising method to replace the precious metal Pt for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Herein,we synthesized CoFe alloy nanoparticle-embedded N-doped graphitic carbon(CoFe/NC)nanostructures as ORR electrocatalysts.The ZIF-67(zeolitic imidazolate framework,ZIF)nanocubes were first synthesized,followed by an introduction of Fe2+ions to form CoFe-ZIF precursors via a simple ion-exchange route.Subsequently,the CoFe/NC composites were synthesized through a facile pyrolysis strategy.The ORR activity and the contents of cobalt and iron could be effectively adjusted by controlling the solution concentration of Fe2+ions used for the ion exchange and the pyrolysis temperature.The CoFe/NC-0.2-900 composite(synthesized with 0.2 mmol of FeSO4·7H2O at a pyrolysis temperature of 900℃)exhibited ORR activity that was superior to the other samples owing to a synergistic effect of the bimetal,especially considering the extremely high limiting current density of 6.4 mA cm^-2 compared with that of Pt/C(5.1 mA cm^-2).Rechargeable Zn-air batteries were assembled employing CoFe/NC-0.2-900 and NiFeP/NF(NiFeP supported on nickel foam(NF))as the catalysts for the discharging and charging processes,respectively,The above materials achieved reduced discharging and charging platforms,high power density,and prolonged cycling stability compared with conventional Pt/C+RuO2/C catalysts.展开更多
Novel and highly durable air cathode electrocatalyst with three dimensional (3D)-clam-shaped structure, MnO2 nanotubes-supported Fe2O3 (Fe2O3/MnO2) composited by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) ((Fe2O3/ MnO2)3/4-(C...Novel and highly durable air cathode electrocatalyst with three dimensional (3D)-clam-shaped structure, MnO2 nanotubes-supported Fe2O3 (Fe2O3/MnO2) composited by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) ((Fe2O3/ MnO2)3/4-(CNTs)1/4) is synthesized using a facile hydrothermal process and a following direct heat- treatment in the air. The morphology and composition of this catalyst are analyzed using scanning elec- tronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The morphology characteristics reveal that flower-like Fe2O3 parti- cles are highly dispersed on both MnO2 nanotubes and CNT surfaces, coupling all three components firmly. Electrochemical measurements indicate that the synergy of catalyst exhibit superior bi- functional catalytic activity for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) as well as stability than Pt/C and lrO2 catalysts. Using these catalysts for air-cathodes, both primary and rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are assembled for performance validation. In a primary ZAB, this 3D-clamed catalyst shows a decent open circuit voltage (OCV, -1.48 V) and a high discharge peak power density (349 mW cm 2), corresponding to a coulomhic efficiency of 92%. In a rechargeahle ZABs with this bifunctional catalyst, high OCV (〉1.3 V) and small charge-discharge voltage gap (〈1.1 V) are achieved along with high specific capacity (780 mAh g 1 at 30 mA cm-2) and robust cycle-life (1,390 cycles at cycle profile of 20 mA/10 min).展开更多
Electrolytes are widely considered as a key component in Li–O;batteries (LOBs) because they greatly affect the discharge-charge reaction kinetics and reversibility.Herein,we report that 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone...Electrolytes are widely considered as a key component in Li–O;batteries (LOBs) because they greatly affect the discharge-charge reaction kinetics and reversibility.Herein,we report that 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI) is an excellent electrolyte solvent for LOBs.Comparing with conventional ether and sulfone based electrolytes,it has higher Li_(2)O_(2)and Li_(2)CO_(3)solubility,which on the one hand depresses cathode passivation during discharge,and on the other hand promotes the liquid-phase redox shuttling during charge,and consequently lowers the overpotential and improves the cyclability of the battery.However,despite the many advantages at the cathode side,DMI is not stable with bare Li anode.Thus,we have developed a pretreatment method to grow a protective artificial solid-state electrolyte interface(SEI) to prevent the unfavorable side-reactions on Li.The SEI film was formed via the reaction between fluorine-rich organic reagents and Li metal.It is composed of highly Li^(+)-conducting Li_(x)BO_(y),LiF,Li_(x)NO_(y),Li_(3)N particles and some organic compounds,in which Li_(x)BO_(y)serves as a binder to enhance its mechanical strength.With the protective SEI,the coulombic efficiency of Li plating/stripping in DMI electrolyte increased from 20%to 98.5%and the fixed capacity cycle life of the assembled LOB was elongated to205 rounds,which was almost fivefold of the cycle life in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or tetraglyme(TEGDME) based electrolytes.Our work demonstrates that molecular polarity and ionic solvation structure are the primary issues to be considered when designing high performance Li–O;battery electrolytes,and cross-linked artificial SEI is effective in improving the anodic stability.展开更多
Binary metal chalcogenides(BMCs)have shown better electrochemical performance compared with their mono metal counterparts owing to their abundant phase interfaces,higher active sites,faster electrochemical kinetics an...Binary metal chalcogenides(BMCs)have shown better electrochemical performance compared with their mono metal counterparts owing to their abundant phase interfaces,higher active sites,faster electrochemical kinetics and higher electronic conductivity.Nevertheless,their performance still undergoes adverse decline during electrochemical processes mainly due to poor intrinsic ionic conductivities,large volume expansions,and structural agglomeration and fracture.To tackle these problems,various strategies have been applied to engineer the BMC nanostructures to obtain optimized electrode materials.However,the lack of understanding of the electrochemical response of BMCs still hinders their large-scale application.This review not only highlights the recent progress and development in the preparation of BMC-based electrode materials but also explains the kinetics to further understand the relation between structure and performance.It will also explain the engineering of BMCs through nanostructuring and formation of their hybrid structures with various carbonaceous materials and three-dimensional(3 D)templates.The review will discuss the detailed working mechanism of BMC-based nanostructures in various electrochemical energy storage(EES)systems including supercapacitors,metal-ion batteries,metal-air batteries,and alkaline batteries.In the end,major challenges and prospective solutions for the development of BMCs in EES devices are also outlined.We believe that the current review will provide a guideline for tailoring BMCs for better electrochemical devices.展开更多
文摘Efficient and affordable electrocatalysts for reversible oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions(ORR and OER,respectively)are highly sought-after for use in rechargeable metal-air batteries.However,the construction of high-performance electrocatalysts that possess both largely accessible active sites and superior ORR/OER intrinsic activities is challenging.Herein,we report the design and successful preparation of a 3D hierarchically porous graphene framework with interconnected interlayer macropores and in-plane mesopores,enriched with pyridinic-nitrogen-cobalt(pyri-N-Co)active sites,namely,CoFe/3D-NLG.The pyri-N-Co bonding significantly accelerates sluggish oxygen electrocatalysis kinetics,in turn substantially improving the intrinsic ORR/OER activities per active site,while copious interlayer macropores and in-plane mesopores enable ultra-efficient mass transfer throughout the graphene architecture,thus ensuring sufficient exposure of accessible pyri-N-Co active sites to the reagents.Such a robust catalyst structure endows CoFe/3D-NLG with a remarkably enhanced reversible oxygen electrocatalysis performance,with the ORR half-wave potential identical to that of the benchmark Pt/C catalyst,and OER activity far surpassing that of the noble-metal-based RuO2 catalyst.Moreover,when employed as an air electrode for a rechargeable Zn-air battery,CoFe/3D-NLG manifests an exceedingly high open-circuit voltage(1.56 V),high peak power density(213 mW cm^(–2)),ultra-low charge/discharge voltage(0.63 V),and excellent charge/discharge cycling stability,outperforming state-of-the-art noble-metal electrocatalysts.
基金support from the Research Project of National University of Defense Technology(ZK16-03-32)National University Student Innovation Programthe support form Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Hunan Province(16K102)
文摘Simple synthesis of multifunctional electrocatalysts with plentiful active sites from earth-abundant materials is especially fascinating. Here, N-doped defective carbon with trace Co (1.5 wt%) was prepared via a scalable one pot solid pyrolysis process. The sample exhibits efficient bifunctional OER/ORR activiW in alkaline, mainly ascribed to the unique micro-mesoporous structure (1-3 nm), high population of graphitic-N doping (up to 49.0%), abundant defects and the encapsulated Co nanoparticles with graphitized carbon. The according rechargeahle liquid Zn-air batteries showed excellent performance (maximum power density of 154.0 mWcm-2: energy density of 773Wh kg -1 at 5 mAcm 2 and charging-discharging cycling stability over 100 cycles). As a proof-of-concept, the flexible, rechargeable all-solid-state Zn-air batteries were constructed, and displayed a maximum power density as high as 45.9 mW cm 2 among the top level of those reported previously.
基金the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21771059, 21631004 and 21571054)the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (JJ2019YX0122)+1 种基金Heilongjiang Provincial Postdoctoral Science Foundation (LBH-Q16194)the excellent Youth Foundation of Heilongjiang University (JC201706)
文摘The construction of transition metal-based catalysts with high activity and stability has been widely regarded as a promising method to replace the precious metal Pt for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Herein,we synthesized CoFe alloy nanoparticle-embedded N-doped graphitic carbon(CoFe/NC)nanostructures as ORR electrocatalysts.The ZIF-67(zeolitic imidazolate framework,ZIF)nanocubes were first synthesized,followed by an introduction of Fe2+ions to form CoFe-ZIF precursors via a simple ion-exchange route.Subsequently,the CoFe/NC composites were synthesized through a facile pyrolysis strategy.The ORR activity and the contents of cobalt and iron could be effectively adjusted by controlling the solution concentration of Fe2+ions used for the ion exchange and the pyrolysis temperature.The CoFe/NC-0.2-900 composite(synthesized with 0.2 mmol of FeSO4·7H2O at a pyrolysis temperature of 900℃)exhibited ORR activity that was superior to the other samples owing to a synergistic effect of the bimetal,especially considering the extremely high limiting current density of 6.4 mA cm^-2 compared with that of Pt/C(5.1 mA cm^-2).Rechargeable Zn-air batteries were assembled employing CoFe/NC-0.2-900 and NiFeP/NF(NiFeP supported on nickel foam(NF))as the catalysts for the discharging and charging processes,respectively,The above materials achieved reduced discharging and charging platforms,high power density,and prolonged cycling stability compared with conventional Pt/C+RuO2/C catalysts.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U1510120)Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(14ZR1400700)+2 种基金the Project of Introducing Overseas Intelligence High Education of China(2017-2018)the Graduate Thesis Innovation Foundation of Donghua University(EG2017031,EG2016034)the College of Environmental Science and Engineering,State Environmental Protection Engineering Centre for Pollution Treatment and Control in Textile Industry,Donghua University
文摘Novel and highly durable air cathode electrocatalyst with three dimensional (3D)-clam-shaped structure, MnO2 nanotubes-supported Fe2O3 (Fe2O3/MnO2) composited by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) ((Fe2O3/ MnO2)3/4-(CNTs)1/4) is synthesized using a facile hydrothermal process and a following direct heat- treatment in the air. The morphology and composition of this catalyst are analyzed using scanning elec- tronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The morphology characteristics reveal that flower-like Fe2O3 parti- cles are highly dispersed on both MnO2 nanotubes and CNT surfaces, coupling all three components firmly. Electrochemical measurements indicate that the synergy of catalyst exhibit superior bi- functional catalytic activity for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) as well as stability than Pt/C and lrO2 catalysts. Using these catalysts for air-cathodes, both primary and rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are assembled for performance validation. In a primary ZAB, this 3D-clamed catalyst shows a decent open circuit voltage (OCV, -1.48 V) and a high discharge peak power density (349 mW cm 2), corresponding to a coulomhic efficiency of 92%. In a rechargeahle ZABs with this bifunctional catalyst, high OCV (〉1.3 V) and small charge-discharge voltage gap (〈1.1 V) are achieved along with high specific capacity (780 mAh g 1 at 30 mA cm-2) and robust cycle-life (1,390 cycles at cycle profile of 20 mA/10 min).
文摘Electrolytes are widely considered as a key component in Li–O;batteries (LOBs) because they greatly affect the discharge-charge reaction kinetics and reversibility.Herein,we report that 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI) is an excellent electrolyte solvent for LOBs.Comparing with conventional ether and sulfone based electrolytes,it has higher Li_(2)O_(2)and Li_(2)CO_(3)solubility,which on the one hand depresses cathode passivation during discharge,and on the other hand promotes the liquid-phase redox shuttling during charge,and consequently lowers the overpotential and improves the cyclability of the battery.However,despite the many advantages at the cathode side,DMI is not stable with bare Li anode.Thus,we have developed a pretreatment method to grow a protective artificial solid-state electrolyte interface(SEI) to prevent the unfavorable side-reactions on Li.The SEI film was formed via the reaction between fluorine-rich organic reagents and Li metal.It is composed of highly Li^(+)-conducting Li_(x)BO_(y),LiF,Li_(x)NO_(y),Li_(3)N particles and some organic compounds,in which Li_(x)BO_(y)serves as a binder to enhance its mechanical strength.With the protective SEI,the coulombic efficiency of Li plating/stripping in DMI electrolyte increased from 20%to 98.5%and the fixed capacity cycle life of the assembled LOB was elongated to205 rounds,which was almost fivefold of the cycle life in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or tetraglyme(TEGDME) based electrolytes.Our work demonstrates that molecular polarity and ionic solvation structure are the primary issues to be considered when designing high performance Li–O;battery electrolytes,and cross-linked artificial SEI is effective in improving the anodic stability.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(52025133)the Tencent Foundation through the XPLORER PRIZE,Beijing Natural Science Foundation(JQ18005)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52125307 and 11974023)the Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing in Northwestern Polytechnic University(NWPU)(SKLSP202004)the Key Area R&D Program of Guangdong Province(2018B030327001 and 2018B010109009)。
文摘Binary metal chalcogenides(BMCs)have shown better electrochemical performance compared with their mono metal counterparts owing to their abundant phase interfaces,higher active sites,faster electrochemical kinetics and higher electronic conductivity.Nevertheless,their performance still undergoes adverse decline during electrochemical processes mainly due to poor intrinsic ionic conductivities,large volume expansions,and structural agglomeration and fracture.To tackle these problems,various strategies have been applied to engineer the BMC nanostructures to obtain optimized electrode materials.However,the lack of understanding of the electrochemical response of BMCs still hinders their large-scale application.This review not only highlights the recent progress and development in the preparation of BMC-based electrode materials but also explains the kinetics to further understand the relation between structure and performance.It will also explain the engineering of BMCs through nanostructuring and formation of their hybrid structures with various carbonaceous materials and three-dimensional(3 D)templates.The review will discuss the detailed working mechanism of BMC-based nanostructures in various electrochemical energy storage(EES)systems including supercapacitors,metal-ion batteries,metal-air batteries,and alkaline batteries.In the end,major challenges and prospective solutions for the development of BMCs in EES devices are also outlined.We believe that the current review will provide a guideline for tailoring BMCs for better electrochemical devices.