Research progress of non-precious metal bifunctional cathode electrocatalysts for zinc-air batteries

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2020.0121

Abstract

Abstract:

Zinc-air battery is a special fuel cell that uses oxygen in the air as a cathode reactive material. It has the advantages of high theoretical energy density, safety and portability, and green and pollution-free. It is one of the ideal power supplies for flexible wearable optoelectronic products. Electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen precipitation reaction (OER) play a vital role in the performance of zinc-air batteries. At present, noble metal Pt has the highest ORR catalytic activity in alkaline media, and Ir and Ru and their oxides have excellent OER catalytic activity. However, the high cost, scarcity, and bifunctional catalytic activity of a single precious metal catalyst have severely limited its commercial activity. It is important to develop non-precious metal bifunctional catalysts with catalytic performance equivalent to that of precious metal catalysts. Based on the research achievements of non-noble metal cathode catalysts for zinc-air batteries at home and abroad in recent years, this paper reviews in detail the research of non-metal heteroatomic doped carbon materials, transition metal matrix composites, transition metal compounds, metal-organic frames and their derivatives as cathode catalysts. The preparation methods of different materials and the effect mechanism of zinc-air battery performance enhancement are introduced in detail. It is concluded that the reasonable control of the size, morphology, and structure of non-precious metal bifunctional cathode catalysts can improve the performance of zinc-air batteries and is expected to replace precious metal catalysts. Finally, the current zinc-air battery non-noble metal cathode catalysts, including a summary on the problems existing in the development of the future should study the theory of electrochemical reaction, high development intrinsic catalytic activity of the composite catalyst and improve the air electrode structure three directions, is expected to achieve the commercial development of zinc-air battery non-noble metal cathode catalyst.

Key words: zinc-air battery, bifunctional electrocatalysts, oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction

CLC Number:

TM 911.41

Ziyue ZHU, Dongju FU, Jianjun CHEN, Bianrong ZENG. Research progress of non-precious metal bifunctional cathode electrocatalysts for zinc-air batteries[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2020, 9(5): 1489-1496.

Figures/Tables 7

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