Work

Ir cluster/Fe2O3 heterostructures on carbon nanotubes boosting oxygen evolution/reduction reactions for flexible Zn-air battery

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The development of bifunctional and universal-pH electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution (OER) and oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) is crucial in the field of metal-air batteries. In this study, we succeed in boosting the OER and ORR activity in both acidic and alkaline conditions by designing an Ir cluster/Fe 2 O 3 @CNTs heterostructures. The resulting material exhibited excellent lower overpotentials of 300 mV and 298 mV in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 and 1.0 M KOH media at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 . Theoretical calculations suggest that Ir cluster enhances the surface electron emission ability by its proximity to the Fermi level, which prompts electron transfer from the Ir layer to Fe 2 O 3 . This process effectively increases the surface electron density and consequently improves the likelihood of electron emission. The fabricated rechargeable flexible Zn-air battery demonstrated excellent cycling stability over 330 h at a current density of 2 mA cm −2 with a capacity retention rate of 58.2 %, highlighting its role as the state-of-the-art bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst.

Source: Nano Materials Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoms.2025.02.002

Authors: Xiangfei Sun, Dantong Zhang, Ke Xu, Binbin Qian, Kunfeng Chen, Dongfeng Xue

Institutions: Shandong University, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Qiqihar University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Language: English

Topic: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: diamond