Binder-Free 3D Integrated Ni@Ni3Pt Air Electrode for Zn-Air Batteries.

Abstract

Developing an air electrode with high efficiency and stable performance is essential to improve the energy conversion efficiency and lifetime of zinc–air battery. Herein, Ni3Pt alloy is deposited on 3D nickel foam by a pulsed laser deposition method, working as a stable binder‐free air electrode for rechargeable zinc–air batteries. The polycrystalline Ni3Pt alloy possesses high oxygen‐conversion catalytic activity, which is highly desirable for the charge and discharge process in zinc–air battery. Meanwhile, this sample technique constructs an integrated and stable electrode structure, which not only has a 3D architecture of high conductivity and porosity but also produces a uniform Ni3Pt strongly adhering to the substrate, favoring rapid gas and electrolyte diffusion throughout the whole energy conversion process. Employed as an air electrode in zinc–air batteries, it exhibits a small charge and discharge gap of below 0.62 V at 10 mA cm−2, with long cycle life of 478 cycles under 10 min per cycle. Furthermore, benefitting from the structural advantages, a flexible device exhibits similar electrochemical performance even under the bending state. The high performance resulting from this type of integrated electrode in this work paves the way of a promising technique to fabricate air electrodes for zinc–air batteries.