Abstract
Despite the recent progress in Zn-air battery fabrication, the development of highly electroactive, non-precious-metal-based, and durable electrocatalysts for such batteries remains challenging. To address this issue, spinel-type MnCo2O4.5 nanoparticles (NPs) prepared by a solvothermal method followed by calcination were characterized by a range of instrumental techniques and employed in rechargeable Zn-air batteries to promote the oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions. The bifunctional activity of the MnCo2O4.5 NPs was further evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry, which showed that both the reduction and oxidation current densities obtained in the presence of this catalyst exceed those observed with catalyst-free carbon. Moreover, the incorporation of the MnCo2O4.5 NPs into an air-breathing cathode resulted in a decreased charge–discharge voltage gap and improved round-trip efficiency. Therefore, these MnCo2O4.5 NPs are a highly beneficial and novel kind of bifunctional electrocatalyst for rechargeable Zn-air batteries.
Graphic abstract
Schematic illustration of solvothermal synthesis, bifunctional catalytic activity of MnCo2O4.5 nanoparticles for Zn-air batteries.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korea Government (MSIP, Nos. 2015R1C1A1A01051733 and 2018R1C1B6004689).
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Sasidharachari, K., Yoon, S. & Cho, K.Y. Facile synthesis and evaluation of MnCo2O4.5 nanoparticles as a bifunctional catalyst for zinc-air battery. J Appl Electrochem 50, 907–915 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-020-01432-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-020-01432-1