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A robust bifunctional catalyst for rechargeable Zn-air batteries: Ultrathin NiFe-LDH nanowalls vertically anchored on soybean-derived Fe-N-C matrix

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Abstract

NiFe layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) nanosheets and metal-nitrogen-carbon materials (M-N-C, M = Ni, Fe, Co, etc.) are supreme catalysts in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process, respectively. Nevertheless, the monotonic performance and insufficient stability severely hamper their practical application in rechargeable batteries. Herein, we simultaneously combine ultrathin NiFe-LDH nanowalls with renewable soybean-derived Fe-N-C matrix to obtain a hybrid materials (NiFe-LDH/FeSoy-CNSs-A), which exhibits robust catalytic activities for OER (Ej=10 = 1.53 V vs. RHE) and ORR (E1/2 = 0.91 V vs. RHE), with a top-notch battery parameters and stability in assembled rechargeable Zn-air batteries. Intensive investigations indicate that the vertically dispersed NiFe-LDH nanosheets, Fe-N-C matrix derived from soybean and the strong synergy between them are responsible for the unprecedented OER and ORR performances. The key role of intrinsic N defects involved in the hybrid materials is firstly specified by ultrasoundassisted extraction of soy protein from soybean. The exquisite design can facilitate the utilization of sustainable biomass-derived catalysts, and the mechanism investigations of N defects and oxygenic groups on the structure-activity relationship can stimulate the progress of other functional hybrid electrocatalysts.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by self-determined research funds of CCNU from the colleges’ basic research and operation of MOE (Nos. CCNU19TS038 and 2019QN017), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No. 2019CFB606), the Wuhan Planning Project of Science and Technology (No. 2018010401011294), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52072139, 21665007, and 21964007) and the National Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province of China (No. 2019RC188).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nano-science and Nano-technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China

    Meng Zhang, Jiting Zhang, Siyi Ran, Lingxi Qiu, Ying Yu, Jisheng Chen & Zhihong Zhu

  2. Key Laboratory of Laser Technology and Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Hainan Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China

    Wei Sun

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  1. Meng Zhang
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  2. Jiting Zhang
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  3. Siyi Ran
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  5. Wei Sun
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  6. Ying Yu
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  7. Jisheng Chen
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  8. Zhihong Zhu
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Correspondence to Wei Sun, Ying Yu or Zhihong Zhu.

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12274_2020_3168_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

A robust bifunctional catalyst for rechargeable Zn-air batteries: Ultrathin NiFe-LDH nanowalls vertically anchored on soybean-derived Fe-N-C matrix

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Zhang, M., Zhang, J., Ran, S. et al. A robust bifunctional catalyst for rechargeable Zn-air batteries: Ultrathin NiFe-LDH nanowalls vertically anchored on soybean-derived Fe-N-C matrix. Nano Res. 14, 1175–1186 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-020-3168-z

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