Bamboo fiber-derived bifunctional electrocatalyst for rechargeable Zn-air batteries

Low-cost and high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts for efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)/oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are vital for the applications of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). Herein, a porous carbon material is fabricated by traditional pulp and papermaking and carbonization process from bamboo. The resultant carbon paper catalyst possesses a high surface area, porous structure, and high content of nitrogen. Benefiting from these characteristics, this material exhibits remarkable ORR and OER catalytic performances. The aqueous rechargeable Zn-air batteries assembled with this catalyst exhibit a high power density of 279.5 mW cm(-2). This work paves an encouraging way for the industrial production of cost-effective catalysts in a sustainable manner.

Automated summary

A porous carbon material with high surface area, porous structure, and high content of nitrogen was fabricated through traditional pulp and papermaking and carbonization process. This material exhibited remarkable ORR and OER catalytic performances and was used as a catalyst in aqueous rechargeable Zn-air batteries with high power density of 279.5 mW cm(-2), paving the way for the industrial production of cost-effective catalysts in a sustainable manner.