Jia P, Zhang J, Xia G, Yu Z, Sun J, Ji X. 2D Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Complexes Derived N-Doped Porous Carbon Nanosheets as Durable Air Cathode for Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries.
Polymers (Basel) 2022;
14:polym14132581. [PMID:
35808628 PMCID:
PMC9269493 DOI:
10.3390/polym14132581]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The defect and N-doping engineering are critical to developing the highly efficient metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), mainly because they can efficiently regulate the geometric/electronic structures and sur-/interface properties of the carbon matrix. Herein, we provide a facile and scalable strategy for the large-scale synthesis of N-doped porous carbon nanosheets (NPCNs) with hierarchical pore structure, only involving solvothermal and pyrolysis processes. Additionally, the turnover frequency of ORR (TOFORR) was calculated by taking into account the electron-transfer number (n). Benefiting from the trimodal pore structures, high specific surface area, a higher pore volume, high-ratio mesopores, massive vacancies/long-range structural defects, and high-content pyridinic-N (~2.1%), the NPCNs-1000 shows an excellent ORR activity (1600 rpm, js = ~5.99 mA cm−2), a selectivity to four-electron ORR (~100%) and a superior stability in both the three-electrode tests (CP test for 7500 s at 0.8 V, Δjs = ~0.58 mA cm−2) and Zn–Air battery (a negligible loss of 0.08 V within 265 h). Besides, the experimental results indicate that the enhancement of ORR activity mainly originates from the defects and pyridinic-N. More significantly, this work is expected to realize green and efficient energy storage and conversion along with the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.
Collapse