Catalytic Design of Carbon Nanofibers in Zinc–Air Batteries: From Atomic Engineering to Multiple Scale Synergistic Optimization

Amidst the escalating global energy demand and the increasingly severe environmental issues, the development of novel, efficient, and environmentally friendly energy storage systems is of paramount importance. Zinc-air batteries (ZABs), with their high energy density, low cost, environmental friendliness, and excellent safety performance, have emerged as one of the most promising next-generation energy storage technologies. The key to enhancing the performance of ZABs lies in the development of efficient catalysts to accelerate the oxygen reduction reaction and the oxygen evolution reaction. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs), with their high specific surface area, excellent conductivity, and stability, serve as ideal catalyst supports and active materials. This review highlights atomic-level engineering and multi-scale optimization strategies to tailor the structure and composition of CNFs, thereby boosting catalytic activity and enabling breakthroughs in ZABs performance. By elucidating the relationship among synthesis, structure, and electrochemical behavior, this work provides valuable insights for designing high-performance carbon-based catalysts in the field of energy conversion and storage systems.