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Dynamic electrocatalyst with current-driven oxyhydroxide shell for rechargeable zinc-air battery

Author

Listed:
  • Ya-Ping Deng

    (University of Waterloo)

  • Yi Jiang

    (University of Waterloo)

  • Ruilin Liang

    (University of Waterloo)

  • Shao-Jian Zhang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Dan Luo

    (University of Waterloo)

  • Yongfeng Hu

    (University of Saskatchewan)

  • Xin Wang

    (South China Normal University)

  • Jun-Tao Li

    (Xiamen University)

  • Aiping Yu

    (University of Waterloo)

  • Zhongwei Chen

    (University of Waterloo)

Abstract

Recent fruitful studies on rechargeable zinc-air battery have led to emergence of various bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts, especially metal-based materials. However, their electrocatalytic configuration and evolution pathway during battery operation are rarely spotlighted. Herein, to depict the underlying behaviors, a concept named dynamic electrocatalyst is proposed. By selecting a bimetal nitride as representation, a current-driven “shell-bulk” configuration is visualized via time-resolved X-ray and electron spectroscopy analyses. A dynamic picture sketching the generation and maturation of nanoscale oxyhydroxide shell is presented, and periodic valence swings of performance-dominant element are observed. Upon maturation, zinc-air battery experiences a near two-fold enlargement in power density to 234 mW cm−2, a gradual narrowing of voltage gap to 0.85 V at 30 mA cm−2, followed by stable cycling for hundreds of hours. The revealed configuration can serve as the basis to construct future blueprints for metal-based electrocatalysts, and push zinc-air battery toward practical application.

Suggested Citation

  • Ya-Ping Deng & Yi Jiang & Ruilin Liang & Shao-Jian Zhang & Dan Luo & Yongfeng Hu & Xin Wang & Jun-Tao Li & Aiping Yu & Zhongwei Chen, 2020. "Dynamic electrocatalyst with current-driven oxyhydroxide shell for rechargeable zinc-air battery," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-15853-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15853-1
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