FeCo Nanoparticles Encapsulated in N‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes Coupled with Layered Double (Co, Fe) Hydroxide as an Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries
Tongrui Zhang, Juanjuan Bian, Yuanqin Zhu, Chunwen Sun
Abstract
Abstract Low‐cost bifunctional nonprecious metal catalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are critical for the commercialization of rechargeable zinc–air batteries (ZABs). However, the preparation of highly active and durable bifunctional catalysts is still challenging. Herein, an efficient catalyst is reported consisting of FeCo nanoparticles embedded in N‐doped carbon nanotubes (FeCo NPs‐N‐CNTs) by an in situ catalytic strategy. Due to the encapsulation and porous structure of N‐doped carbon nanotubes, the catalyst shows high activity toward ORR and excellent durability. Furthermore, to enhance the OER activity, CoFe‐layer double hydroxide (CoFe‐LDH) is coupled with FeCo NPs‐N‐CNTs by in situ reaction approach. As the air electrode for rechargeable ZABs, the cell with CoFe‐LDH@FeCo NPs‐N‐CNTs catalyst exhibits high open‐circuit potential (OCP) of 1.51 V, high power density of 116 mW cm −2 , and remarkable durability up to 100 h, demonstrating its great promise for the practical application of the rechargeable ZABs.