Ultrasonic-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of cobalt oxide/nitrogen-doped graphene oxide hybrid as oxygen reduction reaction catalyst for Al-air battery

A persistent ultrasound-assisted hydrothermal method has been developed to prepare cobalt oxide incorporated nitrogen-doped graphene (Co(3)O(4)/N-GO) hybrids. The electrochemical behaviors and catalytic activity of the prepared hybrids have been systematically investigated as cathode materials for Al-air battery. The results show that ultrasonication can promote the yield ratio of Co(3)O(4) from 63.1% to 70.6%. The prepared Co(3)O(4)/N-GO hybrid with ultrasonication exhibits better ORR activity over that without ultrasonication. The assembled Al-air battery using the ultrasonicated Co(3)O(4)/N-GO hybrid exhibited an average working voltage of 1.02 V in 4 M KOH electrolyte at 60 mA∙cm(−2), approximately 60 mV higher than that using hybrid without ultrasonication. This should be attributed to large number density of fine Co(3)O(4) particles growing on the dispersed GO sheets under the persistent ultrasonication. The related ultrasonic mechanism has been discussed in details.