title: Co3O4-CeO2/C as a Highly Active Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Al-Air Batteries.
abstract: Developing high-performance and low-cost electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is still a great challenge for Al-air batteries. Herein, CeO2, a unique ORR promoter, was incorporated into ketjenblack (KB) supported Co3O4catalyst. We developed a facile two-step hydrothermal approach to fabricate Co3O4-CeO2/KB as a high-performance ORR catalyst for Al-air batteries. The ORR activity of Co3O4/KB was significantly increased by mixing with CeO2nanoparticles. In addition, the Co3O4-CeO2/KB showed a better electrocatalytic performance and stability than 20 wt % Pt/C in alkaline electrolytes, making it a good candidate for highly active ORR catalysts. Co3O4-CeO2/KB favored a four-electron pathway in ORR due to the synergistic interactions between CeO2and Co3O4. In full cell tests, the Co3O4-CeO2/KB exhibited a higher discharge voltage plateau than CeO2/KB and Co3O4/KB when used in cathode in Al-air batteries.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University , Changsha 410083, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University of Arts and Science , Changde 415000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University , Changsha 410083, P. R. China.|Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University , Changsha 410083, P. R. China.|Institute of Packing & Material, Hunan University of Technology , Zhuzhou 412008, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fuzhi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University , Changsha 410083, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yougen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University , Changsha 410083, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jingsha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Minhua
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4496-0057
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shao
keywords: Al−air batteries; Co3O4−CeO2/C; adsorption of oxygen; hydrothermal; oxygen reduction reaction; synergistic effects