Atomic Modulation and Structure Design of Carbons for Bifunctional Electrocatalysis in Metal-Air Batteries

Abstract

With the extensive research and development of renewable energy technologies, there is an increasing interest in developing metal-free carbons as a new class of bifunctional electrocatalysts for boosting the performance of metal-air batteries. Along with significant understanding of the electrocatalytic nature and the rapid development of techniques, the activities of carbon electrocatalysts are well-tailored by introducing particular dopants/defects and structure regulation. Herein, the recent advances regarding the rational design of carbon-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction are summarized, with a special focus on the bifunctional applications in Zn-air and Li-air batteries. Specifically, the atomic modulation strategies to regulate the electrocatalytic activities of carbons and structure modification are summarized to gain deep insights into bifunctional mechanisms and boost advanced Zn-air and Li-air batteries. The current challenges and future perspectives are also addressed to accelerate the exploration of promising bifunctional carbon catalysts for renewable energy technologies, particularly metal-air batteries.

Keywords: bifunctional electrocatalysts; metal-air batteries; metal-free carbon; oxygen evolution reaction; oxygen reduction reaction.