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Published on: August 23, 2012
Capturing Visible Light in Low-Band-Gap C4 N-Derived Responsive Bifunctional Air Electrodes for Solar Energy
Zhengsong Fang1, Yuan Li1, Jing Li1
1Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
Abstract:
We report facile synthesis of low-band-gap mesoporous C4 N particles and their use as responsive bifunctional oxygen catalysts for visible-light-sensitive (VLS) rechargeable Zn-air battery (RZAB) and polymer-air battery (RPAB). Compared to widely studied g-C3 N4 , C4 N shows a smaller band gap of 1.99 eV, with a larger photocurrent response, and it can function as visible-light-harvesting antenna and bifunctional oxygen reduction/evolution (ORR/OER) catalysts, enabling effective photocoupling to tune oxygen catalysis. The C4 N-enabled VLS-RZAB displays a low charge voltage of 1.35 V under visible light, which is below the theoretical RZAB voltage of 1.65 V, corresponding to a high energy efficiency of 97.78 %. Pairing a C4 N cathode with a polymer anode also endows an VLS-RPAB with light-boosted charge performance. It is revealed that the ORR and OER active sites in C4 N are separate carbon sites near pyrazine-nitrogen atoms and photogenerated energetic holes can activate OER for improved reaction kinetics.
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