Electronic/mass transport increased hollow porous Cu3P/MoP nanospheres with strong electronic interaction for promoting oxygen reduction in Zn-air batteries

Developing high-efficient non-noble metal-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an inevitable way to improve Zinc-air batteries' performance (ZAB). Herein, we report a Cu3P/MoP electrocatalyst (Cu3P/MoP@C) supported by hollow-porous-carbon nanospheres displaying high electrocatalytic activity and exceptional durability in alkaline media. The optimized ORR catalyst outperformed the benchmark Pt/C (20 wt%) and most recently reported Cu-/Mo-based catalysts in various aspects. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that the excellent ORR performance originates from the charge transfer between of Cu3P and MoP species. Besides, the large specific surface area of Cu3P/MoP@C with mesopomus structure is particularly advantageous for the inner surface contact with electrolyte to accelerate ORR kinetics. Moreover, Cu3P/MoP@C also exhibits a large power density of 156 mW cm(-2), a high round-trip efficiency, and superb stability over 231 h superior to Pt/C in the ZAB. This work offers a scalable and promising approach for the rational fabrication of hollow porous structure materials.

Automated summary

In this study, a Cu3P/MoP@C electrocatalyst supported by hollow-porous-carbon nanospheres exhibited high electrocatalytic activity and exceptional durability in alkaline media. The optimized ORR catalyst outperformed benchmark Pt/C and most recently reported Cu-/Mo-based catalysts in various aspects, demonstrating promising potential for rational fabrication of hollow porous structure materials. Additionally, the charge transfer between Cu3P and MoP species and the large specific surface area of the catalyst are key factors contributing to its excellent ORR performance and superior stability in Zinc-air batteries.