Enhanced oxygen evolution and power density of Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs for the application of zinc-air batteries

Tien Hung Chen; Chung Sheng Ni; Chi Yu Lai; Sanna Gull; Yun Chen Chu; Wen Yang Jao; Chi Chang Hu; Shih Fu Liu; Chong Chi Chi; Tsung Yi Chen; Jyh Fu Lee; Chih Wen Pao; Jeng Lung Chen; Han Yi Chen; Jin Hua Huang

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.187

Enhanced oxygen evolution and power density of Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs for the application of zinc-air batteries

Tien Hung Chen
, Chung Sheng Ni
, Chi Yu Lai
, Sanna Gull
, Yun Chen Chu
, Wen Yang Jao
, Chi Chang Hu
, Shih Fu Liu
, Chong Chi Chi
, Tsung Yi Chen
, Jyh Fu Lee
, Chih Wen Pao
, Jeng Lung Chen
, Han Yi Chen^*
, Jin Hua Huang

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are viewed as a promising solution for electric vehicles due to their potential to provide a clean, cost-effective, and sustainable energy storage system for the next generation. Nevertheless, sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the air electrode, and low power density are significant challenges that hinder the practical application of ZABs. The key to resolving the development of ZABs is developing an affordable, efficient, and stable catalyst with bifunctional catalytic. In this study, we present a series of bifunctional catalysts composed of Co/Zn nanoparticles uniformly embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) denoted as Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs. The incorporation of MWCNTs using a facile and non-toxic method significantly decreased the overpotential of the OER from 570 to 430 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and the peak power density from 226 to 263 mW cm⁻². Besides, the electrochemical surface area measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicate that the three-dimensional (3D) network structure of MWCNTs facilitates mass transport for ORR and reduces electron transfer resistance during OER, leading to a small potential gap of 0.86 V between OER and ORR, high electron transfer number (3.92–3.98) of the ORR, and lowest Tafel slope (47.8 mV dec⁻¹) of the OER in aqueous ZABs. In addition, in-situ Raman spectroscopy revealed a notable decrease in the I_D/I_G ratio for the optimally configured Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs (75:25), indicating a reduction in defect density and improved structural ordering during the electrochemical process, which directly contributes to enhanced ORR activity. Hence, this study provides an excellent strategy for constructing a bifunctional catalyst material with a 3D MWCNTs conductive network for the development of advanced ZAB systems for sustainable energy applications.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	119-131
Number of pages	13
Journal	Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Volume	679
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.187
State	Published - Feb 2025
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier Inc.

Keywords

Bifunctional catalysts
CoZn-metal-organic framework
Multi-wall carbon nanotubes
Zinc–air batteries

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Biomaterials
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Colloid and Surface Chemistry

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.187

Cite this

Chen, T. H., Ni, C. S., Lai, C. Y., Gull, S., Chu, Y. C., Jao, W. Y., Hu, C. C., Liu, S. F., Chi, C. C., Chen, T. Y., Lee, J. F., Pao, C. W., Chen, J. L., Chen, H. Y., & Huang, J. H. (2025). Enhanced oxygen evolution and power density of Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs for the application of zinc-air batteries. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 679, 119-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.187

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title = "Enhanced oxygen evolution and power density of Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs for the application of zinc-air batteries",

abstract = "Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are viewed as a promising solution for electric vehicles due to their potential to provide a clean, cost-effective, and sustainable energy storage system for the next generation. Nevertheless, sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the air electrode, and low power density are significant challenges that hinder the practical application of ZABs. The key to resolving the development of ZABs is developing an affordable, efficient, and stable catalyst with bifunctional catalytic. In this study, we present a series of bifunctional catalysts composed of Co/Zn nanoparticles uniformly embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) denoted as Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs. The incorporation of MWCNTs using a facile and non-toxic method significantly decreased the overpotential of the OER from 570 to 430 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and the peak power density from 226 to 263 mW cm−2. Besides, the electrochemical surface area measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicate that the three-dimensional (3D) network structure of MWCNTs facilitates mass transport for ORR and reduces electron transfer resistance during OER, leading to a small potential gap of 0.86 V between OER and ORR, high electron transfer number (3.92–3.98) of the ORR, and lowest Tafel slope (47.8 mV dec−1) of the OER in aqueous ZABs. In addition, in-situ Raman spectroscopy revealed a notable decrease in the ID/IG ratio for the optimally configured Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs (75:25), indicating a reduction in defect density and improved structural ordering during the electrochemical process, which directly contributes to enhanced ORR activity. Hence, this study provides an excellent strategy for constructing a bifunctional catalyst material with a 3D MWCNTs conductive network for the development of advanced ZAB systems for sustainable energy applications.",

keywords = "Bifunctional catalysts, CoZn-metal-organic framework, Multi-wall carbon nanotubes, Zinc–air batteries",

author = "Chen, \{Tien Hung\} and Ni, \{Chung Sheng\} and Lai, \{Chi Yu\} and Sanna Gull and Chu, \{Yun Chen\} and Jao, \{Wen Yang\} and Hu, \{Chi Chang\} and Liu, \{Shih Fu\} and Chi, \{Chong Chi\} and Chen, \{Tsung Yi\} and Lee, \{Jyh Fu\} and Pao, \{Chih Wen\} and Chen, \{Jeng Lung\} and Chen, \{Han Yi\} and Huang, \{Jin Hua\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2025",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.187",

language = "English",

volume = "679",

pages = "119--131",

journal = "Journal of Colloid and Interface Science",

issn = "0021-9797",

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T1 - Enhanced oxygen evolution and power density of Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs for the application of zinc-air batteries

AU - Chen, Tien Hung

AU - Ni, Chung Sheng

AU - Lai, Chi Yu

AU - Gull, Sanna

AU - Chu, Yun Chen

AU - Jao, Wen Yang

AU - Hu, Chi Chang

AU - Liu, Shih Fu

AU - Chi, Chong Chi

AU - Chen, Tsung Yi

AU - Lee, Jyh Fu

AU - Pao, Chih Wen

AU - Chen, Jeng Lung

AU - Chen, Han Yi

AU - Huang, Jin Hua

PY - 2025/2

Y1 - 2025/2

N2 - Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are viewed as a promising solution for electric vehicles due to their potential to provide a clean, cost-effective, and sustainable energy storage system for the next generation. Nevertheless, sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the air electrode, and low power density are significant challenges that hinder the practical application of ZABs. The key to resolving the development of ZABs is developing an affordable, efficient, and stable catalyst with bifunctional catalytic. In this study, we present a series of bifunctional catalysts composed of Co/Zn nanoparticles uniformly embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) denoted as Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs. The incorporation of MWCNTs using a facile and non-toxic method significantly decreased the overpotential of the OER from 570 to 430 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and the peak power density from 226 to 263 mW cm−2. Besides, the electrochemical surface area measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicate that the three-dimensional (3D) network structure of MWCNTs facilitates mass transport for ORR and reduces electron transfer resistance during OER, leading to a small potential gap of 0.86 V between OER and ORR, high electron transfer number (3.92–3.98) of the ORR, and lowest Tafel slope (47.8 mV dec−1) of the OER in aqueous ZABs. In addition, in-situ Raman spectroscopy revealed a notable decrease in the ID/IG ratio for the optimally configured Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs (75:25), indicating a reduction in defect density and improved structural ordering during the electrochemical process, which directly contributes to enhanced ORR activity. Hence, this study provides an excellent strategy for constructing a bifunctional catalyst material with a 3D MWCNTs conductive network for the development of advanced ZAB systems for sustainable energy applications.

AB - Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are viewed as a promising solution for electric vehicles due to their potential to provide a clean, cost-effective, and sustainable energy storage system for the next generation. Nevertheless, sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the air electrode, and low power density are significant challenges that hinder the practical application of ZABs. The key to resolving the development of ZABs is developing an affordable, efficient, and stable catalyst with bifunctional catalytic. In this study, we present a series of bifunctional catalysts composed of Co/Zn nanoparticles uniformly embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) denoted as Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs. The incorporation of MWCNTs using a facile and non-toxic method significantly decreased the overpotential of the OER from 570 to 430 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and the peak power density from 226 to 263 mW cm−2. Besides, the electrochemical surface area measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicate that the three-dimensional (3D) network structure of MWCNTs facilitates mass transport for ORR and reduces electron transfer resistance during OER, leading to a small potential gap of 0.86 V between OER and ORR, high electron transfer number (3.92–3.98) of the ORR, and lowest Tafel slope (47.8 mV dec−1) of the OER in aqueous ZABs. In addition, in-situ Raman spectroscopy revealed a notable decrease in the ID/IG ratio for the optimally configured Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs (75:25), indicating a reduction in defect density and improved structural ordering during the electrochemical process, which directly contributes to enhanced ORR activity. Hence, this study provides an excellent strategy for constructing a bifunctional catalyst material with a 3D MWCNTs conductive network for the development of advanced ZAB systems for sustainable energy applications.

KW - Bifunctional catalysts

KW - CoZn-metal-organic framework

KW - Multi-wall carbon nanotubes

KW - Zinc–air batteries

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85205313452

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DO - 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.187

M3 - Article

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SN - 0021-9797

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JO - Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

JF - Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

ER -

Enhanced oxygen evolution and power density of Co/Zn@NC@MWCNTs for the application of zinc-air batteries

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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