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3D-Printed Bio-inspired Multi-channel Cathodes for Zinc–air Battery Applications

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Abstract

It is of great significance to enhance mass transfer and improve active surface area in cathodes for zinc–air batteries (ZABs), which promote oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency and power outputs. Nature has endowed some tissues with special structures to have efficient mass transfer properties and high active surface area. As an important mass transfer part of trees, xylem contains massive long and partially aligned channels, which provides numerous “passageway” and high active surface area for plants to facilitate the efficient transport of oxygen and inorganic salts. The multi-channel structures give an important insight to develop high efficient air cathode. Herein, 3D-printed bio-inspired multi-channel cathodes (BMCs), inspired by xylem structures, have been developed for high-performance ZABs via 3D printing. Channels of bionic cathode contribute to forming a continuous supply of oxygen from air. As a result, massive tri-phase boundary regions, where ORR happens, are formed inside of cathode. Moreover, the 3D-printed metal-based framework can facilitate electron transfer during ORR process. Benefiting from the multi-channel framework, the assembled ZABs with BMC-600 show excellent electrochemical performances in terms of the high power density of 170.1 mW cm−2 and a high open-circuit voltage of 1.51 V. Therefore, BMCs provide a potential alternative as promising cathode for metal–air batteries.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51975245 and 52075214), Jilin Provincial Science & Technology Department (20200201058JC, 20190303039SF and 20200201224JC), Department of Jilin Provincial Education (JKH20210884KJ), Key Science and Technology R&D Projects of Jilin Province (2020C023-3), Program of Jilin University Science and Technology Innovative Research Team (2020TD-03), and Youth Development Program of Jilin University (2020-JCXK-22).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, Jilin, People’s Republic of China

    Xin Men, Zhiyuan Li, Song Liang, Hang Sun, Zhenning Liu & Guolong Lu

  2. Engineering College, Changchun Normal University, Changchun, 130032, People’s Republic of China

    Wei Yang & Mi Wang

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  1. Xin Men
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Correspondence to Zhenning Liu or Guolong Lu.

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Men, X., Li, Z., Yang, W. et al. 3D-Printed Bio-inspired Multi-channel Cathodes for Zinc–air Battery Applications. J Bionic Eng 19, 1014–1023 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-022-00173-5

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