Engineering core-shell Co9S8/Co nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide: Efficient bifunctional Mott-Schottky electrocatalysts in neutral rechargeable Zn-Air batteries

作者：Wang, Xingkun; Zhan, Guangming; Wang, Yurou; Zhang, Yan; Zhou, Jian; Xu, Ren; Gai, Huiyu; Wang, Huanlei; Jiang, Heqing; Huang, Minghua^*

来源：Journal of Energy Chemistry, 2022, 68: 113-123.

DOI：10.1016/j.jechem.2021.09.014

• Oxygen reduction reaction
• Oxygen evolution reaction
• Core-shell Mott-Schottky
• Defective carbon architecture
• Neutral Zn-air batteries

It is significant for the rational construction of the high-efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for in-depth understandings of how to improve the electron transfer and ion/oxygen transport in catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction (ORR and OER), but still full of vital challenges. Herein, we synthesize the novel "three-in-one" catalyst that engineers core-shell Mott-Schottky Co9S8/Co heterostructure on the defective reduced graphene oxide (Co9S8/Co-rGO). The Co9S8/Co-rGO catalyst exhibits abundant Mott-Schottky heterogeneous-interfaces, the well-defined core-shell nanostructure as well as the defective carbon architecture, which provide the multiple guarantees for enhancing the electron transfer and ion/oxygen transport, thus boosting the catalytic ORR and OER activities in neutral electrolyte. As expected, the integrated core-shell Mott-Schottky Co9S8/Co-rGO catalyst delivers the most robust and efficient rechargeable ZABs performance in neutral solution electrolytes accompanied with a power density of 59.5 mW cm(-2) and superior cycling stability at 5 mA cm(-2) over 200 h. This work not only emphasizes the rational designing of the high-efficient bifunctional oxygen catalysts from the fundamental understanding of accelerating the electron transfer and ion/oxygen transport, but also sheds light on the practical application prospects in more friendly environmentally neutral rechargeable ZABs.

• 单位
  中国科学院青岛生物能源与过程研究所; 中国海洋大学