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Research Article

WC/Co7Fe3 heterojunction embedded in N,P co-doped hierarchical carbon enables rechargeable/flexible Zn-air battery

Huimin Mao1,2, Xiaobin Liu1,2,4( ), Siqi Wu1,2, Yixin Fu1,2, Guishan Liu1,2, Guizhong Zhou1,2( ), Lei Wang1,2,3( )
Key Laboratory of Eco-chemical Engineering, International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco-chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
Chaofeng Steel Structure Group Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 311215, China
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Graphical Abstract

The mutual adjustment among the tungsten carbide (WC), Co7Fe3, and N,P co-doped carbon at the three-phase heterojunction interface improves the conductivity and electron transfer rate of the catalyst. The Zn-air battery (ZAB) assembled by WC/Co7Fe3-NPHC as an air cathode exhibits ultra-long cycle stability, and it can keep good charge and discharge stability at different bending angles when applied to flexible solid ZAB.

Abstract

Rational design and synthesis of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts with high activity and stability are key challenges in the development of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). In this paper, tungsten carbide (WC) and Co7Fe3 embedded in N,P co-doped hierarchical carbon (WC/Co7Fe3-NPHC) was prepared by using zeolite imidazolate frameworks as precursor. Density functional theory demonstrates that the mutual adjustment among the WC, Co7Fe3, and N,P co-doped carbon at the three-phase heterojunction interface makes the catalyst possess moderate adsorption strength, and greatly improves the conductivity and electron transfer rate of the catalyst. As a result, the WC/Co7Fe3-NPHC exhibits a low overall oxygen redox potential difference of 0.72 V, while the ZAB assembled by WC/Co7Fe3-NPHC as an air cathode exhibits ultra-long cycle stability of over 550 h. Futhermore, WC/Co7Fe3-NPHC can keep good charge and discharge stability at different bending angles when applied to flexible solid ZAB.

Keywords

heterojunctionhierarchical structurebifunctional oxygen electrocatalystZn-air battery

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Nano Research
Volume 16 Issue 2,
February 2023
Pages 2519-2527
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-5059-y
Cite this article:
Mao H, Liu X, Wu S, et al. WC/Co7Fe3 heterojunction embedded in N,P co-doped hierarchical carbon enables rechargeable/flexible Zn-air battery. Nano Research, 2023, 16(2): 2519-2527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-022-5059-y
Topics:
Zinc air batteries

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Received: 06 August 2022
Revised: 13 September 2022
Accepted: 14 September 2022
Published: 03 November 2022
© Tsinghua University Press 2022
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