Cu97P3-x-yOxNy/NPC as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for rechargeable zincair battery

Abstract

Developing highly efficient and economically sustainable electrocatalysts with bifunctions for the oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction is crucially important in practical implementation of rechargeable zinc-air batteries. Herein, a novel Cu-based electrocatalyst composed of Cu97P3-x-yOxNy nanoparticles supported on N, P co-doped carbon is synthesized straightforward by the annealing of the Cu-phytic acid gel under an argon and ammonia gases atmosphere. The Cu97P3-x-yOxNy/N, P co-doped carbon catalyst displays the outstanding catalytic performance for both the oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solution, which is ascribed to the synergistic effect of Cu97P3-x-yOxNy and N, P co-doped carbon. Meanwhile, the primary and rechargeable zinc-air batteries assembled by the Cu97P3-x-yOxNy/N, P co-doped carbon catalyst exhibit a high specific capacity and remarkable charge-discharge cycle stability, which are comparable to that of the benchmark Pt/C and IrO2. The energy density of the catalyst reaches to 737 Wh kg(zn)(-1). To the best of our knowledge, few Cu-based electrocatalysts is reported for rechargeable zinc-air batteries.