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Graphitic C3N4@MWCNTs supported Mn3O4 as a novel electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in zinc–air batteries

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Abstract

A series of catalysts (g-C3N4@MWCNTs/Mn3O4) were prepared from g-C3N4, MWCNTs, and Mn3O4 for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in zinc–air batteries. From the half-cell tests, the loading of 35 % Mn3O4 (sample GMM35) presents an excellent activity toward ORR in alkaline condition. Rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) studies reveal that 3.6∼3.8 electrons are transferred with a H2O2 yield of 11.4 % at −0.4 V. Meanwhile, the GMM35 nanocomposite exhibits the same durability as commercial 20 wt% Pt/C in alkaline condition, but it shows lower peak power density (192.4 mW cm−2 at 229.1 mA cm−2) and cell voltage than those with a commercial Pt/C catalyst (260.9 mW cm−2 at 285.4 mA cm−2).

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Metallic Materials (BM2007204) and the Analytical Test Fund of Southeast University (201226). LL would also like to thank Professor Yuanjian Zhang at Southeast University and Professor Galina Tsirlina, the editor of this manuscript, for helpful suggestions for data treatments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, People’s Republic of China

    Guanghua Li, Yan Fu & Lixu Lei

  2. Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of MOE and Jiangsu Provincial Laboratory for Nanotechnology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, People’s Republic of China

    Tao Sun & Ou Zhuo

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  1. Guanghua Li
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  2. Tao Sun
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  3. Yan Fu
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  4. Lixu Lei
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Correspondence to Lixu Lei.

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Li, G., Sun, T., Fu, Y. et al. Graphitic C3N4@MWCNTs supported Mn3O4 as a novel electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in zinc–air batteries. J Solid State Electrochem 20, 2685–2692 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-016-3277-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-016-3277-5

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