scholarly journals Recent Advances in Isolated Single-Atom Catalysts for Zinc Air Batteries: A Focus Review

Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weimin Zhang ◽  
Yuqing Liu ◽  
Lipeng Zhang ◽  
Jun Chen
Keyword(s):  
Electrocatalytic Activity ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Single Atom ◽  
Design And Synthesis ◽  
Dual Metal ◽  
Zinc Air Batteries

Recently, zinc–air batteries (ZABs) have been receiving attention due to their theoretically high energy density, excellent safety, and the abundance of zinc resources. Typically, the performance of the zinc air batteries is determined by two catalytic reactions on the cathode—the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Therefore, intensive effort has been devoted to explore high performance electrocatalysts with desired morphology, size, and composition. Among them, single-atom catalysts (SACs) have emerged as attractive and unique systems because of their high electrocatalytic activity, good durability, and 100% active atom utilization. In this review, we mainly focus on the advance application of SACs in zinc air batteries in recent years. Firstly, SACs are briefly compared with catalysts in other scales (i.e., micro- and nano-materials). A main emphasis is then focused on synthesis and electrocatalytic activity as well as the underlying mechanisms for mono- and dual-metal-based SACs in zinc air batteries catalysis. Finally, a prospect is provided that is expected to guide the rational design and synthesis of SACs for zinc air batteries.

Printed air cathode for flexible and high energy density zinc-air battery

MRS Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (53) ◽  
pp. 3585-3591
Author(s):  
Soorathep Kheawhom ◽  
Sira Suren
Keyword(s):  
Metal Oxides ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Ohmic Loss ◽  
Screen Printing Technique ◽  
Cathode Current ◽  
Discharge Potential ◽  
Zinc Air Batteries

ABSTRACTFlexible zinc-air batteries were fabricated using an inexpensive screen-printing technique. The anode and cathode current collectors were printed using commercial nano-silver conductive ink on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate and a polypropylene (PP) membrane, respectively. Air cathodes made of blended carbon black with inexpensive metal oxides including manganese oxide (MnO2) and cerium oxide (CeO2), were studied. The presence of the metal oxides in the air cathodes enhanced the oxygen reduction reaction which is the most important cathodic reaction in zinc-air batteries. The battery with 20 %wt CeO2showed the highest performance and provided an open-circuit voltage of 1.6 V and 5 – 240 mA.cm-2ohmic loss zone. The discharge potential of this battery at the current density of 5 mA.cm-2was nearly 0.25 V higher than that of the battery without metal oxides. Finally, the battery was tested for its flexibility by bending it so that its length decreased from 2.5 to 1 cm. The results showed that the bending did not affect characteristics on potential voltage and discharging time of the batteries fabricated.

A “micropores & active species protection” strategy for the preparation of a high-performance Fe/S/N-composited porous carbon catalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction and zinc–air batteries

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (20) ◽  
pp. 5184-5192
Author(s):  
Zuoxu Xiao ◽  
Chaoyi Yang ◽  
Shanshan Liu ◽  
Wei Yan ◽  
Fuling Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Reduction Reaction ◽  
Oxygen Reduction ◽  
Porous Carbon ◽  
Electrocatalytic Activity ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Active Species ◽  
Carbon Catalyst ◽  
Protection Strategy ◽  
Zinc Air Batteries

The Fe/S/N–C electrocatalyst developed from polythiophene protected poly-porphyrin displays an overall superior electrocatalytic activity for the ORR and zinc–air batteries.

Rational Design of Co3O4 Nano-Flowers for High Performance Supercapacitors

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-153
Author(s):  
Yucai Li ◽  
Yan Zhao ◽  
Dong Zhang ◽  
Shiwei Song ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrochemical Performance ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Electrode Materials ◽  
High Specific Capacitance ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Storage Device ◽  
Facile Hydrothermal Method ◽  
Promising Application

Electrochemical performance of the electrode materials is seriously dependent on the structure and morphology of the electrode material. In this work, the nanoflower-like Co3O4 samples are successfully prepared on Ni foam via a facile hydrothermal method. The as-fabricated Co3O4 samples exhibit superior electrochemical performance with a high specific capacitance of 382.6 C g-1 at 1 A g-1 and excellent capacitance retention. In addition, the as-fabricated device presents a high energy density of 23.6 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 508.6 W kg-1 and excellent cycle stability with a capacitance retention of 81.2% after 10000 cycles, indicating a promising application as electrodes for energy storage device.

scholarly journals Atomic-Scale Design of High-Performance Pt-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Ying
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Reduction Reaction ◽  
Oxygen Reduction ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Commercial Application ◽  
Energy Conversion Devices

Fuel cells are regarded as one of the most promising energy conversion devices because of their high energy density and zero emission. Development of high-performance Pt-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is vital to the commercial application of these fuel cell devices. Herein, we review the most significant breakthroughs in the development of high-performance Pt-based ORR electrocatalysts in the past decade. Novel and preferred nanostructures, including biaxially strained core–shell nanoplates, ultrafine jagged nanowires, nanocages with subnanometer-thick walls and nanoframes with three-dimensional surfaces, for excellent performance in ORR are emphasized. Important effects of strain, particle proximity, and surface morphology are fully discussed. The remaining changes and prospective research directions are also proposed.

scholarly journals Morphological Attributes Govern CO2 Reduction on Mesoporous Carbon Nanosphere with Embedded Axial Co-N5 Sites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youzhi Li ◽  
Bo Wei ◽  
Zhongjian Li ◽  
Lei Fan ◽  
Qike Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mesoporous Carbon ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Density Functional ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Co2 Reduction ◽  
Catalytic Performance ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Single Atom ◽  
High Turnover ◽  
Morphological Attributes

Abstract Although single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been widely employed in the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), the understanding regarding the effect of morphological attributes on catalytic performance are still lacking, which prevents the rational design of high-performance catalysts for electrochemical CO2RR. Here, we developed a novel catalyst with axial Co-N5 sites embedded on controllable mesoporous carbon nanosphere with different graded pore structures. Benefiting from the precise control of porosity, the influence of morphological attributes on catalytic performance was well revealed. In situ characterization combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that axial N-coordination induced local d-p orbitals coupling enhancement of Co with oxides and the optimal pore size of 27 nm promoted the interfacial bonding characteristics, which facilitate both the COOH* generation and CO desorption. Consequently, A superior selectivity of nearly 100% at -0.8 V vs. RHE and commercially relevant current densities of >150 mA cm−2 could be achieved, and a strikingly high turnover frequency of 1.136*104 h−1 at -1.0 V has been obtained, superior to the most of Co-based catalysts.

Efficient Co-Harvesting of Solar Energy and Low-Grade Heat by Molecular Photoswitches for High Energy Density, Long-Term Stable Solar Thermal Battery

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao-Yang Zhang ◽  
Tao LI
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Thermal Battery ◽  
Low Grade Heat

Solar energy and ambient heat are two inexhaustible energy sources for addressing the global challenge of energy and sustainability. Solar thermal battery based on molecular switches that can store solar energy and release it as heat has recently attracted great interest, but its development is severely limited by both low energy density and short storage stability. On the other hand, the efficient recovery and upgrading of low-grade heat, especially that of the ambient heat, has been a great challenge. Here we report that solar energy and ambient heat can be simultaneously harvested and stored, which is enabled by room-temperature photochemical crystal-to-liquid transitions of small-molecule photoswitches. The two forms of energy are released together to produce high-temperature heat during the reverse photochemical phase change. This strategy, combined with molecular design, provides high energy density of 320-370 J/g and long-term storage stability (half-life of about 3 months). On this basis, we fabricate high-performance, flexible film devices of solar thermal battery, which can be readily recharged at room temperature with good cycling ability, show fast rate of heat release, and produce high-temperature heat that is >20<sup> o</sup>C higher than the ambient temperature. Our work opens up a new avenue to harvest ambient heat, and demonstrate a feasible strategy to develop high-performance solar thermal battery.

Efficient Co-Harvesting of Solar Energy and Low-Grade Heat by Molecular Photoswitches for High Energy Density, Long-Term Stable Solar Thermal Battery

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao-Yang Zhang ◽  
Tao LI
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Thermal Battery ◽  
Low Grade Heat

Solar energy and ambient heat are two inexhaustible energy sources for addressing the global challenge of energy and sustainability. Solar thermal battery based on molecular switches that can store solar energy and release it as heat has recently attracted great interest, but its development is severely limited by both low energy density and short storage stability. On the other hand, the efficient recovery and upgrading of low-grade heat, especially that of the ambient heat, has been a great challenge. Here we report that solar energy and ambient heat can be simultaneously harvested and stored, which is enabled by room-temperature photochemical crystal-to-liquid transitions of small-molecule photoswitches. The two forms of energy are released together to produce high-temperature heat during the reverse photochemical phase change. This strategy, combined with molecular design, provides high energy density of 320-370 J/g and long-term storage stability (half-life of about 3 months). On this basis, we fabricate high-performance, flexible film devices of solar thermal battery, which can be readily recharged at room temperature with good cycling ability, show fast rate of heat release, and produce high-temperature heat that is >20<sup> o</sup>C higher than the ambient temperature. Our work opens up a new avenue to harvest ambient heat, and demonstrate a feasible strategy to develop high-performance solar thermal battery.

scholarly journals Defect-induced B4C electrodes for high energy density supercapacitor devices

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Özge Balcı ◽  
Merve Buldu ◽  
Ameen Uddin Ammar ◽  
Kamil Kiraz ◽  
Mehmet Somer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Carbon ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Synthesis Conditions ◽  
High Energy Ball Mill ◽  
Energy Ball ◽  
G Ratio ◽  
Energy And Power Density

AbstractBoron carbide powders were synthesized by mechanically activated annealing process using anhydrous boron oxide (B2O3) and varying carbon (C) sources such as graphite and activated carbon: The precursors were mechanically activated for different times in a high energy ball mill and reacted in an induction furnace. According to the Raman analyses of the carbon sources, the I(D)/I(G) ratio increased from ~ 0.25 to ~ 0.99, as the carbon material changed from graphite to active carbon, indicating the highly defected and disordered structure of active carbon. Complementary advanced EPR analysis of defect centers in B4C revealed that the intrinsic defects play a major role in the electrochemical performance of the supercapacitor device once they have an electrode component made of bare B4C. Depending on the starting material and synthesis conditions the conductivity, energy, and power density, as well as capacity, can be controlled hence high-performance supercapacitor devices can be produced.

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