1. Molten‐Salt Media Synthesis of N‐Doped Carbon Tubes Containing Encapsulated Co Nanoparticles as a Bifunctional Air Cathode for Zinc‐Air Batteries.
- Author
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Dong, Qing, Wang, Hui, Ji, Shan, Wang, Xuyun, Mo, Zaiyong, Linkov, Vladimir, and Wang, Rongfang
- Subjects
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OXYGEN evolution reactions , *TUBES , *CATHODES , *ZINC electrodes , *ELECTRIC batteries , *STORAGE batteries , *CARBON foams - Abstract
Cost efficient bifunctional air cathodes possessing high electrocatalytic activity are of great importance for the development of secondary Zn‐air batteries. In this work, cobalt nanoparticles are encapsulated within a 3D N‐doped open network of carbon tubes (Co@N‐CNTs) by a molten‐salt synthesis procedure conducted at a high temperature. Physical characterization demonstrates that Co@N‐CNTs are comprised of Co particle inserted carbon tubes with mesoporous tube walls, providing significant active surface area for electrochemical reactions. High electrocatalytic activity of Co@N‐CNTs towards both oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions is due to its well‐developed active surface and a synergistic effect between N‐doped carbon and Co nanoparticles. Both primary and secondary Zn‐air battery cells assembled using Co@N‐CNTs as an air cathode show higher electrochemical performance than similar cells containing commercial Pt/C and Pt/C +RuO2, making the newly developed material a promising alternative to existing metal‐based air cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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