Heuristic Iron–Cobalt-Mediated Robust pH-Universal Oxygen Bifunctional Lusters for Reversible Aqueou

ACS Nano 15(9) 14683–14696

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.1c04471

Nayantara K. Wagh, Dong-Hyung Kim, Sung-Hae Kim, Sambhaji S. Shinde, and Jung-Ho Lee

Abstract

Rechargeable aqueous zinc–air cells (ZACs) promise an extremely safe and high energy technology. However, they are still significantly limited by sluggish electrochemical kinetics and irreversibility originating from the parasitic reactions of the bifunctional catalysts and electrolytes. Here, we report the preferential in situ building of interfacial structures featuring the edge sites constituted by FeCo single/dual atoms with the integration of Co sites in the nitrogenized graphitic carbon frameworks (FeCo SAs@Co/N-GC) by electronic structure modulation approach. Compared to commercial Pt/C and RuO2, FeCo SAs@Co/N-GC reveals exceptional electrochemical performance, reversible redox kinetics, and durability toward oxygen reduction and evolution reactions under universal pH environments, i.e., alkaline, neutral, and acidic, due to synergistic effect at interfaces and preferred charge/mass transfer. The aqueous (alkaline, nonalkaline, and acidic electrolytes) ZACs constructed with a FeCo SAs@Co/N-GC cathode tolerate stable operations, have significant reversibility, and have the highest energy densities, outperforming those of noble metal counterparts and state-of-the-art ZACs in the ambient atmosphere. Additionally, flexible solid-state ZACs demonstrate excellent mechanical and electrochemical performances with a highest power density of 186 mW cm–2, specific capacity of 817 mAh gZn–1, energy density of 1017 Wh kgZn–1, and cycle life >680 cycles with extremely harsh operating conditions, which illustrates the great potential of triphasic catalyst for green energy storage technologies.