Main-group element-boosted oxygen electrocatalysis of Cu-N-C sites for zinc-air battery with cycling over 5000 h

Yifan Li, Aijian Huang, Lingxi Zhou, Bohan Li, Muyun Zheng, Zewen Zhuang, Chang Chen (), Chen Chen (), Feiyu Kang and Ruitao Lv ()
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Yifan Li: Tsinghua University
Aijian Huang: Tsinghua University
Lingxi Zhou: Tsinghua University
Bohan Li: Tsinghua University
Muyun Zheng: Tsinghua University
Zewen Zhuang: Fuzhou University
Chang Chen: Tsinghua University
Chen Chen: Tsinghua University
Feiyu Kang: Tsinghua University
Ruitao Lv: Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Developing highly active and durable air cathode catalysts is crucial yet challenging for rechargeable zinc-air batteries. Herein, a size-adjustable, flexible, and self-standing carbon membrane catalyst encapsulating adjacent Cu/Na dual-atom sites is prepared using a solution blow spinning technique combined with a pyrolysis strategy. The intrinsic activity of the Cu-N4 site is boosted by the neighboring Na-containing functional group, which enhances O2 adsorption and optimizes the rate-determining step of O2 activation (*O2 → *OOH) during the oxygen reduction reaction process. Meanwhile, the Cu-N4 sites are encapsulated within carbon nanofibers and anchored by the carbon matrix to form a C2-Cu-N4 configuration, thereby reinforcing the stability of the Cu centers. Moreover, the introduction of Na-containing functional groups on the carbon atoms significantly reduces the positive charge on their outer shell C atoms, rendering the carbon skeletons less susceptible to corrosion by oxygen species and further preventing the dissolution of Cu centers. Under these multi-type regulations, the zinc-air battery with Cu/Na-carbon membrane catalyst as the air cathode demonstrates long-term discharge/charge cycle stability of over 5000 h. This considerable stability improvement represents a critical step towards developing Cu-N4 active sites modified with the neighboring main-group metal-containing functional groups to overcome the durability barriers of zinc-air batteries for future practical applications.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52494-0

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