High-Power Aqueous Zn-H2O2 Batteries for Multiple Applications

Summary: Metal-air batteries have high capacities and power densities, but performance is limited in the absence of oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide not only has oxygen storage capacity of ∼1,600 times that of air but is also in some ways more convenient for storage and transportation than high-pressure cylinders. H2O2 may be a viable alternative in non-oxygen conditions. Here, we report aqueous Zn-H2O2 battery that is designed by replacing O2 gas with hydrogen peroxide using Co/N doped carbon nanosheet as a multifunctional catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and H2O2 decomposition. The optimized Zn-H2O2 battery exhibits superior high-rate discharging performance among 20–120 mA cm−2, 23% higher than that of Zn-air battery at the rate of 120 mA cm−2. As an application, two-serial Zn-H2O2 batteries can light a red LED array and work well in water. Therefore, we think Zn-H2O2 battery has numerous applications in high-power devices.