Quasi-solid-state Zn-air batteries with an atomically dispersed cobalt electrocatalyst and organohydrogel electrolyte

Quasi-solid-state Zn-air batteries are usually limited to relatively low-rate ability (<10 mA cm(-2)), which is caused in part by sluggish oxygen electrocatalysis and unstable electrochemical interfaces. Here we present a high-rate and robust quasi-solid-state Zn-air battery enabled by atomically dispersed cobalt sites anchored on wrinkled nitrogen doped graphene as the air cathode and a polyacrylamide organohydrogel electrolyte with its hydrogen-bond network modified by the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide. This design enables a cycling current density of 100 mA cm(-2) over 50 h at 25 degrees C. A low-temperature cycling stability of over 300 h (at 0.5 mA cm(-2)) with over 90% capacity retention at -60 degrees C and a broad temperature adaptability (-60 to 60 degrees C) are also demonstrated. Quasi-solid-state Zn-air batteries are limited by sluggish kinetics and low temperature incompatibility. Here, the authors use a single-atom catalyst and an organohydrogel electrolyte to enable a 100 mA cm(-2) cycling current density at 25 degrees C and a -60 to 60 degrees C operational window.

Automated summary

In this study, a high-rate and robust performance is achieved in quasi-solid-state Zn-air batteries using a single-atom catalyst and an organohydrogel electrolyte. A cycling current density of 100 mA cm(-2) at 25 degrees C and a broad temperature adaptability of -60 to 60 degrees C are demonstrated.