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One-dimensional polymer-derived ceramic nanowires with electrocatalytically active metallic silicide tips as cathode catalysts for Zn–air batteries

New metallic nickel/cobalt/iron silicide droplets at the tips of polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) nanowires have been identified as stable and efficient cathode catalysts for Zn–air batteries. The as-prepared catalyst having a unique one-dimensional (1D) PDC nanowire structure with the presence of meta...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Moni, Prabu, Mooste, Marek, Tammeveski, Kaido, Rezwan, Kurosch, Wilhelm, Michaela
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: The Royal Society of Chemistry 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9044625/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35494147
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d1ra05688c
Descripción
Sumario:New metallic nickel/cobalt/iron silicide droplets at the tips of polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) nanowires have been identified as stable and efficient cathode catalysts for Zn–air batteries. The as-prepared catalyst having a unique one-dimensional (1D) PDC nanowire structure with the presence of metallic silicide tips of 1D-PDC plays a crucial role in facilitating oxygen reduction/evolution reaction kinetics. The Zn–air battery was designed using Ni/PDC, Co/PDC and Fe/PDC as air electrode catalysts. In electrochemical half-cell tests, it was observed that the catalysts have a good bifunctional electrocatalytic activity. The efficiency of the catalysts to function as a cathode catalyst in real-time primary and mechanically rechargeable Zn–air battery configurations was determined. The primary battery testing results revealed that Ni/PDC and Co/PDC exhibited a stable discharge voltage plateau up to 29 h. The Fe/PDC sample, on the other hand, performed up to 23 h with an operating potential of 1.20 V at the discharge current density of 5 mA cm(−2) after which the battery ceased to perform. The Ni/PDC, Co/PDC, and Fe/PDC cathode catalysts performed galvanostatic 1200 charge–discharge cycles in a mechanically rechargeable secondary Zn–air battery configuration. The results demonstrate that the Ni/PDC, Co/PDC, and Fe/PDC materials serve as excellent and durable bifunctional cathode electrocatalysts for Zn–air batteries.