Advanced Trifunctional Electrocatalysis with Cu-, N-, S-Doped Defect-Rich Porous Carbon for Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries and Self-Driven Water Splitting

• DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c04745
• Publication Date: 2021-09-17T19:10:47Z
• Authors: Mingwen Wang; Kunmei Su; Maliang Zhang; Xi Du; Zhenhuan Li
• Keywords: Oxygen evolution; Carbon fibers; Noble metal

Fuel cells and water splitting are promising sustainable energy storage conversion systems that can facilitate the usage of renewable resources reduce reliance on fossil fuels. These applications require catalysts to perform required oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), evolution (OER), hydrogen (HER). It would be ideal use a non-noble metal-based multifunctional catalyst for these reactions. Herein, new type porous carbon doped with Cu, N, S was prepared as trifunctional ORR, OER, HER from S-rich polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). By oxidatively treating PPS, we critically prevented high-temperature melting precursor. Further, pyrolysis using ammonia (NH3) desulfurized introduced N into matrix, increasing structural defects surface area. introducing copper during pyrolysis, tridoped (Cu, S) successfully synthesized. The extremely large number active sites local chemical environment enable excellent electrocatalytic performance stability across at levels superior or comparable noble metals. This also used sole in Zn–air batteries overall demonstrate performance. synthesis method pave way toward design discovery, enabling more versatile robust applications.