High-Performance Redox Catalysts from Copolymer-Anchor Multimetallic Oxoacids

In the field of electrocatalysis, developing and synthesizing cathode electrocatalysts for metal-air batteries with high activity and long-term stability is a significant challenge.This article presents a novel in-situ nitridation and phosphidation strategy using phosphotungstic acid (HPW)-polyaniline-phytic acid-Fe3+ organic-inorganic hybrid materials to prepare W3N4 and WP.The resulting materials feature a three-dimensional porous framework, with a W3N4-WP heterostructure embedded in a carbon matrix (W3N4-WP@NPC). The prepared materials exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), with a diffusion-limited current density of 6.9 mA·cm−2 and a half-wave potential of 0.82 V. As a cathode for zinc-air primary batteries, the W3N4-WP@NPC assembled battery can provide a relatively high peak power density of 194.2 mW·cm−2. As an air cathode for zinc-air secondary batteries, it demonstrates good cycling stability, exceeding 500 hours.This study provides a simple and effective method for rationally designing high-performance air cathodes from copolymer-anchored multimetallic oxoacids.

01 Research Background and Objectives

• Energy demand and challenges of zinc-air batteries have gained attention due to the increasing societal demand for clean energy, with zinc-air batteries being favored for their high energy density and environmental friendliness.

• However, the slow kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the lack of efficient, stable electrocatalysts limit the performance of zinc-air batteries.

• The advantages of multimetallic oxoacids (POMs) are considered ideal candidate materials for designing new electrocatalysts due to their high oxidation states, rich structures, and excellent redox properties.

02 Research Methods

• Material preparation Researchers successfully synthesized a multimetallic oxoacid-based electrocatalyst containing a W3N4-WP heterojunction using a copolymer anchoring strategy.

• Performance testing The electrocatalyst’s activity and stability in the oxygen reduction reaction were evaluated using electrochemical testing methods.

03 Research Results

• High-performance performance Results showed that the electrocatalyst exhibited excellent ORR performance under alkaline conditions, with high onset and half-wave potentials.

• The structural advantages The formation of the W3N4-WP heterojunction enhances electron transfer and mass transport, thereby improving catalytic performance.

04 Visual Guide

05 Research Significance

The application potential of zinc-air batteries This research provides a high-performance, stable electrocatalyst for zinc-air batteries, which is expected to promote the further development of zinc-air battery technology.

06 Research Limitations

The long-term stability of the catalyst needs verification Although the electrocatalyst performed excellently in short-term tests, its long-term stability and performance in actual zinc-air batteries still need further verification.

07 Future Research Directions

• Catalyst optimization and mechanism research Future research can further optimize the composition and structure of the catalyst to improve its long-term stability and catalytic efficiency.

• At the same time, exploring the catalytic mechanism of the catalyst in-depth is also an important future research direction.

In summary, this study successfully prepared a high-performance oxygen reduction electrocatalyst based on copolymer-anchored multimetallic oxoacids and preliminarily verified its application potential in zinc-air batteries. However, the long-term stability and catalytic mechanism of the catalyst still require further research to promote the practical application of zinc-air battery technology.

This article is provided by the Hydrogen Energy Research Assistant.

Original link:

https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1007/s12274-024-6459-y

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