Integrated manufacturing of REciclable multi-material COmposites for the TRANSport sector
In situ Self?Catalyzed Growth of Manganese?Embedded 3D Flakes?Coated Carbon Rod as an Efficient Oxygen?Reduction Reaction Catalyst of Zinc?Air Batteries
Coated flakes: Mn?coordinated N?aligned 3D graphene?like flakes?coated carbon rods are self?grown catalyzed by Mn. The obtained catalysts exhibit high oxygen?reduction reaction electrocatalytic performance in alkaline media.The in situ self?catalyzed growth of manganese?embedded 3D flakes?coated carbon rods (GFC) as an efficient oxygen?reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst of Zinc?air batteries is described for the first time. By optimizing the amount of Mn in the precursor, a series of 3D graphene?like flakes?coated carbon rods were synthesized. GFC with a doping amount of Mn of 10?% (GFC?10) exhibits excellent ORR performance with an onset potential of 0.94?V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode). The Zinc?air battery is constructed with GFC?10 as the cathode catalyst, and it exhibits a peak power density of 128.9?mW?cm?2 and a cycling stability of 75?h at a current density of 10?mA?cm?2, which are superior to the commercial 20?wt% Pt/C?based Zinc?air battery. Interestingly, the introduction of Mn facilitates the self?catalyzed growth of carbon rods, and the change of Mn amount can effectively regulate the morphology of materials. The improved ORR performance of the catalyst is ascribed to the synergistic effect of unique hierarchical porous structure, high?charge transport capacity, abundant carbon defects/edges and Mn?Nx sites. This research provides a new avenue to fabricating highly active Mn?based electrocatalysts for renewable energy systems.
» Publication Date: 05/12/2022
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nº 768737
