Co-modified polyoxovanadoborates derived Co/BN-CNT/VN based bifunctional electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

Rational design of high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts to accelerate the sluggish oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) in rechargeable Zn–air batteries remain an enduring challenge. The construction of multicomponent catalysts is a promising solution to achieve this goal. Herein, B and N co-doped interconnecting graphite carbon and carbon nanotube with the decoration of Co and vanadium nitride (VN) nanoparticles (Co/BN-CNT/VN) are synthesized using Co-modified polyoxovanadoborates as precursors. The optimized composite achieves superior bifunctional oxygen electrocatalytic activity and stability, which is comparable to noble metal catalysts and reported bifunctional electrocatalysts. Specifically, the half-potential of ORR reaches 0.85 V, and the overpotential of OER is low to 296 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Strikingly, zinc–air batteries assembled based on Co/BN-CNT/VN demonstrate a small charge–discharge voltage gap of 0.873 V, a remarkable peak-power density of 156.3 mW cm−2, and outstanding cycling durability (∼1000 cycles at 10 mA cm−2). This work affords a new alternative strategy to create cost-effective and high-potency bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for advanced air batteries.