Highly Stable Co Single Atom Confined in Hierarchical Carbon Molecular Sieve as Efficient Electrocatalysts in Metal-Air Batteries

Single atoms catalysts' (SACs) applications in the energy storage field are hindered by their insufficient stability and poor recyclability due to their oxidation and agglomeration. To address this challenge, herein, a Co-CMS composite material is synthesized by confining Co SACs into the highly ordered pores of the carbon molecular sieve (CMS). Related theoretical and experimental methods prove that the microporous trapping and hydroxyl doping of CMS are favorable for synergistically stabilizing the precursor and contributing to the subsequent conversion of single atoms with strong interactions between Co, O, and N. The unique 3D spiral pore structure of CMS facilitates the mass transfer of reactants and the highly dispersed Co single atoms confined in CMS increase the active sites. These properties are ideal for oxygen reduction reaction catalysts. Benefiting from the above-mentioned superiority, the Co-CMS cathode exhibits superior performance in a rechargeable Zn-air battery with a lower charge-discharge voltage gap of 0.77 V and a power density of 219 mW cm(-2). The applications of Co-CMS catalysts are also extended to other metal-air batteries in this work, which further highlights the advantages of carbon molecular sieves in stabilizing SACs materials.

Automated summary

This article introduces a method of immobilizing Co single atoms in the pores of carbon molecular sieves (CMS), which stabilizes the precursor through microporous trapping and hydroxyl doping, and increases the reaction sites. The Co-CMS exhibits superior performance as an oxygen reduction reaction catalyst.