Nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures embedded with Fe-Co-Cr alloy based nanoparticles as robust electrocatalysts for Zn-air batteries

Kumar, R and Kumar, S and Chandrappa, SG and Goyal, N and Yadav, A and Ravishankar, N and Prakash, AS and Sahoo, B (2024) Nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures embedded with Fe-Co-Cr alloy based nanoparticles as robust electrocatalysts for Zn-air batteries. In: Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 984 .

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Abstract

Two types of nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterials embedded with novel transition metal-based medium entropy alloy nanoparticles are synthesized via a simple, scalable, and cost-effective single-step pyrolysis route, by varying the stoichiometric ratio of iron and cobalt. The samples predominantly have bamboo-shaped nanotube morphology with some globular structures. The globules are core-shell type nanoparticles, i.e., containing the metallic-alloy nanoparticles encapsulated by the graphitic shell and embedded within defective amorphous-type carbon matrix. The electrochemical studies using these samples are conducted in basic medium to explore their potential for Zn-air batteries. Electrochemical measurements are carried out in 1 M and 0.1 M KOH, respectively, on a rotating disk electrode setup. The sample with higher cobalt content performs better for both oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with regards to lower onset potential, lower Tafel slope and lower activation energy. However, the stability towards OER is better for the sample with higher iron content. The sample with higher cobalt content shows a better overall oxygen electrochemistry compared to the one with higher iron content, is at par with several state-of art electrocatalysts and is utilized for fabrication of a prototype Zn-air battery demonstrating its practical applicability. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Publisher:	Elsevier Ltd
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to the Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords:	Activation energy; Chromium alloys; Cobalt alloys; Cost effectiveness; Doping (additives); Electrolysis; Electrolytic reduction; Iron alloys; Metal nanoparticles; Nitrogen; Oxygen; Potassium hydroxide; Rotating disks; Synthesis (chemical); Ternary alloys; Transition metals; Zinc air batteries, Alloy nanoparticle; Carbon nano-materials; Carbon nano-structures; Cobalt content; Iron content; Medium entropy; Metal-air battery; Metallic alloy nanoparticle; Metallic alloys; Nitrogen-doped carbons, Electrocatalysts
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Materials Research Centre
Date Deposited:	23 Apr 2024 11:20
Last Modified:	23 Apr 2024 11:20
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/84608

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