Boosting the performance of Zn-air cells by spinel catalysts with bimodal pore structure and gill filament configuration

Abstract

Spinel oxides with specific morphology are importantly multifunctional materials for various applications. Here we report various morphological spinel oxides with one and two-modal pore size structures. The surface microstructure, phase composition, specific surface areas and electrocatalytic OER/ORR activities are examined. The results reveal that the bicomponent (NiCo2O4 and Co3O4) spinel exhibits a bimodal pore size distribution, high specific surface area, good OER activity (an overpotential of 313 mV at 10 mA cm−2Geo) and low Tafel slope of 73.1 mV dec−1. The Co3O4 component presents a perforated sheet morphology similar to an ancient window configuration with regular hole patterns, which benefits for mass transfer and O2 bubble detachment. By comparison, the single-component NiCo2O4 spinel having the morphology of more open self-assembled nanoneedle spheres or nanorod clusters, similar to the configuration of fish gill filaments, shows better ORR activities. The morphology, similar to the fish gills, can readily capture dissolved oxygen molecules from the film electrolyte at the three-phase interface and improve ORR performance. In addition, calcination temperatures also significantly affect pore structure, surface areas, and electrocatalytic activities. Finally, small Lab size Zn-air cells are assembled using thin flexible air electrodes with the self-assembled nanoneedle NiCo2O4 catalysts. Electrochemical charging-discharging performance and cycling durability are evaluated.