Synergy between copper single atoms and cobalt particles for high performance frigostable aqueous Al-air batteries

Abstract

The performance of Al-air batteries remain stagnant due to sluggish air cathode reactions, especially in cold environments. Therefore, it is urgent to explore aqueous Al-air batteries to equip an efficient catalyst for application under low temperature. Here, copper single atoms (Cu₁) and cobalt particles (Co_p) decorated N doped carbon (Cu₁Co_pNC) were synthesized via carbonization of Cu, Co co-doped ZIF-8 combined with MWCNTs. The synergistic effect in Cu₁-Co_p active sites and unique 1D-3D porous nanostructure endow Cu₁Co_pNC with high oxygen reduction activities: high onset and half-wave potential (0.98 V and 0.87 V vs RHE, respectively). Consequently, the Al-air batteries with Cu₁Co_pNC show remarkable performance in a wide service temperature range (-40–50 ℃). Such alkaline Al-air battery provides a high start voltage from 0.7 V with a peak power density of about 16.58 mW cm⁻² at −40 ℃. It is expected that such metal single atoms with neighbored heterogeneous metallic particles could be extended in various energy conversion and storage fields.