A hierarchical Co3O4/CoS microbox heterostructure as a highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for rechargeable Zn–air batteries

Herein, we report the synthesis of a strongly coupled Co3O4/CoS microbox heterostructure, prepared through an annealing treatment with the subsequent hydrothermal sulfidation of a Co–Co Prussian blue analog (PBA) precursor. The unique 3D hierarchical architecture and potential synergies of Co3O4 and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2021-08, Vol.9 (32), p.17344-17352
Main Authors: Kyeongseok Min, Kim, Sangjin, Lee, Eoyoon, Yoo, Geunsang, Ham, Hyung Chul, Shim, Sang Eun, Lim, Dongwook, Sung-Hyeon Baeck
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Batteries
Battery cycles
Catalysts
Catalytic activity
Cobalt oxides
Durability
Electrocatalysts
Heterostructures
Metal air batteries
Pigments
Rechargeable batteries
Ruthenium oxide
Sulfidation
Zinc
Zinc-oxygen batteries
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Summary:Herein, we report the synthesis of a strongly coupled Co3O4/CoS microbox heterostructure, prepared through an annealing treatment with the subsequent hydrothermal sulfidation of a Co–Co Prussian blue analog (PBA) precursor. The unique 3D hierarchical architecture and potential synergies of Co3O4 and CoS provide benefits to the Co3O4/CoS heterostructure for both oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER). It displays comparable ORR catalytic activity (half-wave potential of 0.820 V) to state-of-the-art Pt/C but better durability and methanol tolerance. The Co3O4/CoS electrocatalyst also shows high OER activity with a relatively low overpotential (349 mV at 10 mA cm−2) and small Tafel slope (66.6 mV dec−1), compared to those of commercial RuO2 (366 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and 86.3 mV dec−1, respectively), making it a potential bifunctional electrocatalyst for both the ORR and the OER. Moreover, a rechargeable Zn–air battery with a Co3O4/CoS cathode shows a higher cell voltage (1.51 V), higher power density (168 mW cm−2 at 269 mA cm−2), and better cycling stability (up to 150 cycles) than the same battery with the state-of-the-art Pt/C + RuO2 catalyst. This PBA-based material with a strongly coupled interface between Co3O4 and CoS offers insights into the development of low-cost and highly efficient electrocatalysts for diverse energy-related applications.
ISSN:2050-7488
2050-7496
DOI:10.1039/d1ta01912k