Spherical α-MnO2 Supported on N-KB as Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction in Al–Air Battery
Kui Chen,
Mei Wang,
Guangli Li,
Quanguo He,
Jun Liu,
Fuzhi Li
Affiliations
Kui Chen
Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, China
Mei Wang
Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, China
Guangli Li
Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, China
Quanguo He
Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, China
Jun Liu
Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, China
Fuzhi Li
Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, China
Traditional noble metal platinum (Pt) is regarded as a bifunctional oxygen catalyst due to its highly catalytic efficiency, but its commercial availability and application is often restricted by high cost. Herein, a cheap and effective catalyst mixed with α-MnO2 and nitrogen-doped Ketjenblack (N-KB) (denoted as MnO2-SM150-0.5) is examined as a potential electrocatalyst in oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER). This α-MnO2 is prepared by redox reaction between K2S2O8 and MnSO4 in acid conditions with a facile hydrothermal process (named the SM method). As a result, MnO2-SM150-0.5 exhibits a good catalytic performance for ORR in alkaline solution, and this result is comparable to a Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, this catalyst also shows superior durability and methanol tolerance compared with a Pt/C catalyst. It also displays a discharge voltage (~1.28 V) at a discharge density of 50 mA cm−2 in homemade Al–air batteries that is higher than commercial 20% Pt/C (~1.19 V). The superior electrocatalytic performance of MnO2-SM150-0.5 could be attributed to its higher Mn3+/Mn4+ ratio and the synergistic effect between MnO2 and the nitrogen-doped KB. This study provides a novel strategy for the preparation of an MnO2-based composite electrocatalyst.
