Single-Atom Catalyst with Optimized Ni Content in a Flexible Zn-Air Battery Operated at a Wide Temperature Range

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Lithium-ion batteries face limitations in flexible electronics due to safety and structural constraints.
• Development of flexible and safe energy storage is crucial for wearable and portable devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a flexible and safe energy storage system for advanced electronics.
• To engineer a high-performance flexible zinc-air battery.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a flexible Zn-air battery using a nitrogen-doped lamellar carbon cathode with Ni single-atom catalytic sites.
• Electrochemical characterization including charge-discharge cycling, current density testing, and half-cell performance evaluation for oxygen evolution reaction.
• Mechanical stress testing (bending, cutting, puncturing) and post-cycling analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

Main Results:

• The flexible Zn-air battery achieved a high areal capacity of ~32 mA·h cm^-2 and over 325 stable charge-discharge cycles.
• The Ni-N_x catalyst demonstrated superior performance in the oxygen evolution reaction compared to IrO₂.
• The battery maintained stable operation across a wide temperature range (5-60 °C) and withstood significant mechanical deformation, with SEM revealing suppressed dendrite growth.

Conclusions:

• The developed flexible Zn-air battery offers a promising alternative to traditional batteries for flexible electronics.
• The novel cathode design and Ni single-atom catalyst contribute to enhanced safety, flexibility, and electrochemical performance.
• The battery's robustness against mechanical stress and temperature variations highlights its potential for real-world applications.