Abstract
The zinc-air batteries (ZABs) has been regarded as a next-generation energy storage device due to its high energy density, cost competitiveness, and excellent safety [1]. However, several challenges must still be overcome to commercialize the ZABs, including poor cycle properties and low coulombic efficiency. These problems are due to oxygen-base reaction which has sluggish kinetics and a high overpotential. Generally, noble metals (Pt) and metal oxides (IrO2, RuO2) have been employed as oxygen-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction respectively. However, these materials suffer from poor durability during the reaction and high material costs. Therefore more durable and economical catalyst materials designed for ZABs should be developed.In this study, we developed Pt/CoWO4 nanofiber hybrid material with excellent stability to overcome the limitations of the commercial catalyst. First, the ceramic nanofibers with a high specific surface area were fabricated by the electrospinning method. Pt and Co catalysts were strongly bonded to a WO3 support using an Ex-solution technique in which metal ions within the solid solution were exposed as metal nanoparticles on the surface [2]. We have modulated a stepwise thermal treatment that controls the crystallinity and oxygen deficiency of support material, and the exposure behavior of Pt, and Co nanoparticles such as particle size and alloy formation. Finally, the optimized hybrid material exhibited high catalytic activity, reaction stability, and material durability in the half-cell tests in alkaline media. Furthermore, a container-type zinc-air cell was fabricated and the Pt/CoWO4 catalyst successfully operated for over 240 h at 2mA∙cm-2. We believe this study guides a strategy for the development of more efficient catalyst materials for feasible not only the ZABs but also various metal catalyst–ceramic supports[1] J. Fu, R. Liang, G. Liu, A. Yu, Z. Bai, L. Yang, and Z. Chen, "Recent Progress in Electrically Rechargeable Zinc – Air Batteries," Adv. Mater., vol. 31, no. 31, p. 1805230, 2019[2] Js Jang, BJ Kim, JW HAN, WC Jung and Id Kim, “Dopant-Driven Positive Reinforcement in Ex-Solution Process: New Strategy to Develop Highly Capable and Durable Catalytic Materials,” Adv. Mater. Vol. 32, issue 46, p. 2003983, 2020 Figure 1
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