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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
08:40
Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
Synergistic Spin-Polarization Effect and Magnetic Exchange Interaction of Core/Shell Structure for Bifunctional
Xiannong Tang1,2, Bingyu Huang1, Yonggan Wu1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/Film Energy Chemistry for Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory (FEC)/Institute of Polymers and Energy Chemistry (IPEC), Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a scalable method for core/shell nanoparticles to boost rechargeable zinc-air battery (RZAB) performance. This new catalyst enhances oxygen reactions, enabling higher power and longer lifespan for practical RZAB applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (RZABs) face challenges with slow oxygen reduction and evolution (ORR/OER) kinetics.
- Core/shell nanostructures offer synergistic benefits for bifunctional electrocatalysis, but scalable synthesis and interfacial control remain difficult for practical RZABs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a scalable synthesis of core/shell nanoparticles for efficient bifunctional electrocatalysis in RZABs.
- To investigate the interfacial electronic modulation and its impact on ORR/OER kinetics.
Main Methods:
- Scalable synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon-supported CoCuNi/ZnMn2O4 core/shell nanoparticles (CoCuNi/ZnMn2O4-NC).
- Characterization of nanoparticle morphology and electronic structure.
- Electrochemical evaluation of bifunctional ORR/OER activity and stability.
- Assembly and testing of liquid and quasi-solid-state RZABs.
Main Results:
- Achieved gram-scale production of CoCuNi/ZnMn2O4-NC with controlled morphology.
- Demonstrated enhanced ORR/OER kinetics due to core/shell synergistic effects, reducing the rate-determining energy barrier.
- Catalyst exhibited high performance: ORR half-wave potential of 0.941 V, OER overpotential of 430 mV at 10 mA cm-2.
- Liquid RZABs achieved peak power density of 244.4 mW cm-2 and 802.5 mAh g-1 capacity with 450 h stability.
- An 8.4 Ah quasi-solid-state RZAB demonstrated 369 mW output power and 200 h lifespan.
Conclusions:
- The developed CoCuNi/ZnMn2O4-NC core/shell catalyst significantly improves bifunctional electrocatalysis for RZABs.
- Scalable synthesis and interfacial engineering are key for practical, high-energy metal-air batteries.
- This work provides a pathway for designing advanced electrocatalysts for next-generation energy storage.
Keywords:
core/shell structuresoxygen evolution reactionoxygen reduction reactionsynergistic effectzinc‐air batteriesMore Related Videos
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