Boosting zinc-air battery performance through interface-engineered N-C/g-C₃N₄ photoelectric synergy

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Solar energy integration into zinc-air batteries (ZABs) offers a sustainable energy storage solution.
• Efficient solar energy utilization in light-enhanced ZABs remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a novel photoelectrocatalyst for improved solar energy conversion in ZABs.
• To investigate the interfacial effects of the composite on charge transfer and catalytic activity.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a nitrogen-doped carbon/graphitic carbon nitride (N-C/g-C3N4) composite via mechanical ball-milling.
• Photoelectrochemical characterization and VB-XPS analysis to study electronic properties.
• Assembly and testing of the composite as an air cathode in ZABs.

Main Results:

• The N-C/g-C3N4 composite demonstrated enhanced photogenerated electron transfer and carrier utilization.
• The material exhibited strong bifunctional catalytic activity for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions under illumination.
• The assembled ZAB achieved a high open-circuit voltage of 1.50 V, peak power density of 572.9 mW cm⁻², and stable cycling over 700 hours.

Conclusions:

• Interface engineering of dual-carbon-based photoelectrocatalysts is effective for high-efficiency solar-assisted metal-air batteries.
• The N-C/g-C3N4 composite shows significant potential for advanced sustainable energy storage.