Bifunctional Single-Atom Cobalt Electrocatalysts with Dense Active Sites Prepared via a Silica Xerogel Strategy for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries

Wang, Lijuan; Xu, Zixiang; Peng, Tingyu; Liu, Maosong; Zhang, Long; Zhang, Jianming

doi:10.3390/nano12030381

Open AccessArticle

Bifunctional Single-Atom Cobalt Electrocatalysts with Dense Active Sites Prepared via a Silica Xerogel Strategy for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries

by

Lijuan Wang

¹,

Zixiang Xu

¹,

Tingyu Peng

²,

Maosong Liu

^1,*,

Long Zhang

^1,*

and

Jianming Zhang

^1,*

¹

Institute of Quantum and Sustainable Technology (IQST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

²

Instrumental Analysis Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(3), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030381

Submission received: 16 December 2021 / Revised: 17 January 2022 / Accepted: 20 January 2022 / Published: 24 January 2022

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Stimuli-Responsive Nanomaterials)

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Abstract

The N-doped cobalt-based (Co) bifunctional single atom catalyst (SAC) has emerged as one of the most promising candidates to substitute noble metal-based catalysts for highly efficient bifunctionality. Herein, a facile silica xerogel strategy is elaborately designed to synthesize uniformly dispersed and dense Co-N_x active sites on N-doped highly porous carbon networks (Co-N-C SAC) using economic biomass materials. This strategy promotes the generation of massive mesopores and micropores for substantially improving the formation of Co-N_x moieties and unique network architecture. The Co-N-C SAC electrocatalysts exhibit an excellent bifunctional activity with a potential gap (ΔE) of 0.81 V in alkaline medias, outperforming those of the most highly active bifunctional electrocatalysts. On top of that, Co-N-C SAC also possesses outstanding performance in ZABs with superior power density/specific capacity. This proposed synthetic method will provide a new inspiration for fabricating various high-content SACs for varied applications.

Keywords: single-atom catalysts; ORR/OER; electrocatalysis; zinc–air battery; xerogel

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MDPI and ACS Style

Wang, L.; Xu, Z.; Peng, T.; Liu, M.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, J. Bifunctional Single-Atom Cobalt Electrocatalysts with Dense Active Sites Prepared via a Silica Xerogel Strategy for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries. Nanomaterials 2022, 12, 381. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030381

AMA Style

Wang L, Xu Z, Peng T, Liu M, Zhang L, Zhang J. Bifunctional Single-Atom Cobalt Electrocatalysts with Dense Active Sites Prepared via a Silica Xerogel Strategy for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries. Nanomaterials. 2022; 12(3):381. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030381

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wang, Lijuan, Zixiang Xu, Tingyu Peng, Maosong Liu, Long Zhang, and Jianming Zhang. 2022. "Bifunctional Single-Atom Cobalt Electrocatalysts with Dense Active Sites Prepared via a Silica Xerogel Strategy for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries" Nanomaterials 12, no. 3: 381. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030381

APA Style

Wang, L., Xu, Z., Peng, T., Liu, M., Zhang, L., & Zhang, J. (2022). Bifunctional Single-Atom Cobalt Electrocatalysts with Dense Active Sites Prepared via a Silica Xerogel Strategy for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries. Nanomaterials, 12(3), 381. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030381

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Bifunctional Single-Atom Cobalt Electrocatalysts with Dense Active Sites Prepared via a Silica Xerogel Strategy for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries

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