N-regulated three-dimensional turf-like carbon nanosheet loaded with FeCoNi nanoalloys as bifunctional electrocatalysts for durable zinc-air batteries

Abstract

N-regulated three-dimensional (3D) turf-like carbon material loaded with FeCoNi nanoalloys (F-CNS-CNT), composed of carbon nanotubes (CNT) grown in situ on carbon nanosheets(CNS), was synthesized using a low-temperature solution combustion method and organic compounds rich in pyridinic-N. This distinct structure significantly expands the effective electrochemical surface area, revealing an abundance of active sites and enhancing the mass transfer capability for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Both experimental observations and theoretical calculations corroborate that the synergy between the FeCoNi nanoalloy and the highly pyridinic N-doped carbon substrate optimizes the adsorption and desorption-free energy of oxygen intermediates, resulting in a remarkable improvement of intrinsic ORR/OER activity. Therefore, the derived F-CNS-CNT electrocatalyst can present a favorable half-wave potential of 0.85 V (ORR) and a lower overpotential of 260 mV (corresponding to a current density of 10 mA cm−2, OER) in alkaline media. Moreover, when employed in the air cathode of a flowable zinc-air battery, the electrocatalyst exhibits exceptional discharge and charge performance, including a high power density of 144.6 mW cm−2, a high specific capacity of 801 mAh g−1, and an impressive cycling stability of 600 cycles at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Notably, these results markedly surpass those of the commercial catalyst Pt/C + IrO2.