Rechargeable Zinc–Air Battery with Ultrahigh Power Density Based on Uniform N, Co Codoped Carbon Nanospheres

Abstract

Highly efficient catalysts for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are key to the commercialization of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs). In this work, a catalyst with uniform nanospherical morphology was prepared from cobalt nitrate, acetylacetone, and hydrazine hydrate. The final catalyst possesses high ORR and OER performances, with a half-wave potential of 0.911 V [vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)] for ORR and a low potential of 1.57 V (vs RHE) at 10 mA cm^-2 for OER in 0.1 M KOH solution. Specially, a ZAB based on the catalyst demonstrates an ultrahigh power density of 479.1 mW cm^-2, as well as excellent stability, and potential in practical applications.