Tailoring Metal–Organic Frameworks and Derived Materials for High-Performance Zinc–Air and Alkaline Batteries
Atefeh Ashoori, Abolhassan Noori, Mohammad S. Rahmanifar, Ali Morsali, Nasim Hassani, M. Neek-Amal, Hosein Ghasempour, Xinhui Xia, Yongqi Zhang, Maher F. El‐Kady, Richard B. Kaner, Mir F. Mousavi
Abstract
Developing multifunctional materials from earth-abundant elements is urgently needed to satisfy the demand for sustainable energy. Herein, we demonstrate a facile approach for the preparation of a metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived Fe 2 O 3 /C, composited with N-doped reduced graphene oxide (MO-rGO). MO-rGO exhibits excellent bifunctional electrocatalytic activities toward the oxygen evolution reaction (η j=10 = 273 mV) and the oxygen reduction reaction (half-wave potential = 0.77 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode) with a low Δ E OER–ORR of 0.88 V in alkaline solutions. A Zn–air battery based on the MO-rGO cathode displays a high specific energy of over 903 W h kg Zn –1 (∼290 mW h cm –2 ), an excellent power density of 148 mW cm –2, and an open-circuit voltage of 1.430 V, outperforming the benchmark Pt/C + RuO 2 catalyst. We also hydrothermally synthesized a Ni-MOF that was partially transformed into a Ni–Co-layered double hydroxide (MOF-LDH). A MO-rGO||MOF-LDH alkaline battery exhibits a specific energy of 42.6 W h kg total mass –1 (106.5 μW h cm –2 ) and an outstanding specific power of 9.8 kW kg total mass –1 (24.5 mW cm –2 ). This work demonstrates the potential of MOFs and MOF-derived compounds for designing innovative multifunctional materials for catalysis, electrochemical energy storage, and beyond.