In Situ Construction of Perovskite Pr 0.5 Ba 0.5 Mn 0.8 Co 0.1 Ru 0.1 O 2.5+δ /CoRu Nanoparticles with Co-N-C Composite Enabling Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Zinc-Air Batteries

Bifunctional catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are essential components of rechargeable zinc-air batteries. In this study, we synthesized a Pr Ba Mn Co Ru O (PBMCRO) perovskite composite with in situ exsolved CoRu nanoparticles and Co-N-C, functioning as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for zinc-air batteries. The in situ exsolution of CoRu nanoparticles from the perovskite oxide was facilitated by the reducing action of 2-methylimidazole (2-MIM). Concurrently, Co-N-C was used to decorate PBMCRO, forming a novel bifunctional composite electrode of Co-N-C-PBMCRO. The incorporation of CoRu nanoparticles introduces a significant number of electrochemically active oxygen vacancies in the perovskite matrix, enhancing ORR and OER performance. Additionally, the Co-N-C synergistically improves electrochemical activity while preserving the structural stability of the perovskite oxide. The prepared Co-N-C-PBMCRO catalyst demonstrates significantly enhanced bifunctional performance compared to the undecorated pristine perovskite Pr Ba MnO (PBMO). The zinc-air battery with Co-N-C-PBMCRO catalyst achieve a peak power density of approximately 90 mW/cm and exhibit remarkable cycling stability for 788 h. This study presents a novel and effective strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of perovskite-based air electrodes for rechargeable metal-air batteries.