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Core–shell C@SnO2 as bifunctional cathode electrocatalyst for high performance Zn-air batteries

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Abstract

The slow reaction kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during the charging and discharging process result in inferior cycle life and low-energy conversion efficiency of commercial zinc-air batteries (ZABs). Stannic oxide (SnO2) has received increasing attention for its unique advantages such as low cost, good stability, and high catalytic activity. In present work, mesoporous nanosphere carbon@stannic oxide (C@SnO2) core–shell structures with C as the inner layer and SnO2 as the outer shell are successfully prepared. When C@SnO2 serves as the cathode for ZABs, its specific surface area (245 m2 g−1) provides amounts of chemically active sites for ORR and OER. Similarly, carbon can not only increase the electrical conductivity of electrocatalyst, but also act as a support body for the core–shell structure which gives the material a robust structure and distinctive morphology. When C@SnO2 are employed as cathode in ZABs, it exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity with half-wave potential (0.88 V) for ORR and onset potential (1.45 V) for OER. In addition, it shows a superior charging-discharging cycle stability. This work offers an insight for the selection and preparation of high-performance electrocatalysts.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This work is supported by the Shanghai Sailing Program from Science and Technology Committee of Shanghai (No. 21YF1416200).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Pan**g Zeng & Chaomin Zhang

  2. School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Mengzhao Ding & Yuchen Huang

  3. School of Science, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Menghao Luo

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  1. Pan**g Zeng
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  2. Chaomin Zhang
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  3. Mengzhao Ding
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  4. Yuchen Huang
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Correspondence to Chaomin Zhang.

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Zeng, P., Zhang, C., Ding, M. et al. Core–shell C@SnO2 as bifunctional cathode electrocatalyst for high performance Zn-air batteries. Ionics 29, 1149–1157 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-022-04854-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-022-04854-3

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