Pyrophosphate Na2CoP2O7 Polymorphs as Efficient Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Zinc-Air Batteries

• Developing earth-abundant low-cost bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is a key approach to realizing efficient energy storage and conversion. By exploring Co-based sodium battery materials, here we have unveiled nanostructured pyrophosphate Na2CoP2O7 polymorphs displaying efficient bifunctional electrocatalytic activity. While the orthorhombic polymorph (oNCPy) has superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity, the triclinic polymorph (t-NCPy) delivers better oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. Simply by tuning the annealing condition, these pyrophosphate polymorphs can be easily prepared at temperatures as low as 500 degrees C. The electrocatalytic activity is rooted in the Co redox center with the (100) active surface and stable structural framework as per ab initio calculations. It marks the first case of phospho-anionic systems with both polymorphs showing stable bifunctional activity with low combined overpotential (ca. similar to 0.7 V) comparable to that of reported state-of-the-art catalysts. These nanoscale cobalt pyrophosphates can be implemented in rechargeable zinc-air batteries.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

cobalt pyrophosphates

bifunctional electrocatalysts

ORR

OER

DFT calculations

zinc-air battery

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