Preparation of ZnO Modified Carbon-based Nano-materials and its Application in Zinc-air Batteries
Rechargeable metal-air batteries have attracted significant attention due to their ability to cyclically convert electrical energy into chemical energy,with broad potential to replace traditional metal-ion batteries.However,the practical application of these batteries faces challenges such as the slow kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction and the high cost and poor stability of Pt/C metal catalysts.In this study,we propose a cost-effective synthesis method for a cathode catalyst designed for zinc-air batteries.Utilizing nitrogen-rich ammonium benzoate as a precursor,we successfully synthesized a ZnO-modified carbon-based nanocomposite electrocatalyst(ZnO/NC-800)through a one-pot pyrolysis process.Electrochemical tests reveal that this catalyst demonstrates excellent catalytic performance for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline electrolytes,showing remarkable activity,stability and safety.When employed as the cathode in zinc-air batteries,the ZnO/NC-800 catalyst exhibits superior performance comparable to carbon-supported platinum(Pt/C).