Nonnoble metal oxides for high‐performance Zn‐air batteries: Design strategies and future challenges

Abstract

Nowadays, the increasing demand for safe, clean, and renewable energies has inspired scientists to do massive research on rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). Thanks to its inherent high theoretical energy density, ZABs have become one of the excellent candidates for the new generation of electric transportations and electrical energy storage systems. Nevertheless, the most significant technical obstacle to the commercialization of ZABs is the tardy oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction (ORR and OER) kinetics of the air electrode. Hence, the development of bifunctional electrocatalysts with advanced ORR/OER catalytic activity and long-term stability is of great significance. Owing to the outstanding advantages of perovskite oxides, scientists have focused their attention on the perovskite-based catalysts. And various strategies have been applied to strengthen their ORR/OER performance, including cation doping, surface structure optimization, nanostructure construction, and composite fabrication. This article concisely outlines the research progress of perovskite-based oxides on ZABs applications. The basic principles of ZABs and the approach to increasing the OER/ORR activity of perovskite oxides as the air electrode of ZABs are illustrated. Finally, this review points out opportunities, possibilities, and future development direction of perovskite-based air electrodes.

Urea-Assisted Sol-Gel Synthesis of LaMnO3 Perovskite with Accelerated Catalytic Activity for Application in Zn-Air Battery

“…Thus, the electrochemical performance of homemade ZABs with a 3.0U-LMO catalyst was further evaluated. As illustrated in Figure 8a, the peak power density of the 3.0U-LMO cathode reached 130.04 mW cm −2 at 0.51 V, which is larger than commercial Pt/C (117.64 mW cm −2 ) and 0U-LMO (101.32 mW cm −2 ) [10]. As an air cathode catalyst with potential for ZABs, durability was necessary for its practical application.…”

“…As a core energy storage technology, Zn-air batteries (ZABs) have attracted attention because of their good energy density and abundant reactive substances, especially the almost unrestricted oxygen used at the air electrode [5][6][7]. However, at present, the performance and stability of ZABs are dramatically hampered by their unsatisfactory high overpotential and slow kinetics of the redox reactions [8][9][10]. Up to now, precious metal-based materials such as Pt-based materials and IrO 2 /RuO 2 are still considered to be the optimal candidates to remedy this situation [11,12].…”

A Review of Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries: Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

“…Perovskite oxides offer a diverse range of structures, oxygen levels, and electrocatalytic features that are tunable with the partial replacement of A-or B-site cations [163,164]. A number of strategies such as cation doping, nanostructuring, surface optimization, and the use of composites can improve ORR/OER performance [165,166]. Zhu et al [167] proposed a novel SrNb 0.1 Co 0.7 Fe 0.2 O 3−δ (SNCF) perovskite and studied its stability and activity in an alkaline solution, finding that this material has the potential to act as an electrocatalyst in the OER process.…”