Abstracts Book - IMRC 2018

• SWMC-O014
Co-N-DOPING HOLLOW CARBON SPHERES AS
ELECTROCATALYST FOR RECHARGEABLE ZINC-AIR BATTERIES
Juan Antonio Zapien 1,2 , Chen Shengmei 1,2
1 City University of Hong Kong, Center of Super Diamond and Advanced Thin Films (COSDAF),
Hong Kong. 2 City University of Hong Kong, Materials Science and Engineering, Hong Kong.
Metal (M)–air batteries (M = Li, Zn, Mg, Al, etc.) have generated much interest
due to its potential for high theoretical energy density and long-term stability.
Furthermore, the environmental benignity of metal anodes is a much desired
advantage. However, the use of noble metal based cathode electrocatalysts
drive the costs up and limited durability largely suppress their advantages.
Accordingly, of nonprecious metal-based catalysts with desirable oxygen
reduction reaction (ORR) performance is needed to secure the future
commercialization of fuel cell and metal air batteries. We have fabricated Co-Ndoped
hollow carbon spheres (Co-NHCs) using an emulsion approach followed
by carbonization. We show the existence of an optimum Co doping content that
presents favorable ORR catalytic activity comparable to that of commercial Pt-C
(onset potential of 0.99 and 1.02 V and half-wave potential of 0,81 and 0.83 V vs.
RHE, respectively). The high performance of the catalyst is attributed to the
synergetic effect of Co and N doping that results in high ratio of active sites, high
surface area, and good conductivity. We also show that assembled rechargeable
zinc–air batteries outperforms those prepared using the commercial Pt-C.
Acknowledgment:
Work supported by the Basic Research Project of Knowledge Innovation
Program of Shenzhen City (JCYJ20160229165250876).
Keywords: Carbon nanostructures, Oxygen reduction reaction, Metal?air batteries
Presenting authors email: apjazs@cityu.edu.hk