N-doped carbon nanotube arrays on reduced graphene oxide as multifunctional materials for energy devices and absorption of electromagnetic waves

Considering serious exhausted non-renewable energy resources and electromagnetic radiation pollution issues, it is quite urgent to exploit multifunctional material for realizing both the conversion sustainable energy sources and protection of electromagnetic radiation pollution. Herein, we develop a facile and high-yield preparation route to fabricate a multifunctional material consisted of CoFe alloy nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes arrays grown on both sides of reduced graphene oxide (CoFe@N-CNT/rGO). CoFe@N-CNT/rGO displays excellent properties in the field of rechargeable Zn-air battery and electromagnetic wave absorption. CoFe@N-CNT/rGO shows bifunctional electrocatalytic performances toward oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, favorably comparable to that of commercial catalysts (Pt/C and IrO2). Furthermore, the assembled liquid and all-solid-state rechargeable Zn-air batteries with CoFe@N-CNT/rGO as air cathode display good chargingedischarging performance. As electromagnetic wave absorbing material, CoFe@N-CNT/rGO shows the minimal reflection loss of -33.2 dB at 13.3 GHz, superior to reported carbon-based electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. Based on excellent electromagnetic absorption performance, electromagnetic energy conversion device is designed to realize reasonable utilization and conversion of the absorbed electromagnetic energy. These encouraging results lay a solid foundation for development the multifunctional material and provide an effective strategy for simultaneously solving energy crisis and electromagnetic radiation problems. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

By utilizing the multifunctional material CoFe@N-CNT/rGO, excellent performance in rechargeable Zn-air battery and electromagnetic wave absorption can be achieved.