Nanoparticles of NiO and CoO simultaneously dispersed on a mesoporous carbonaceous support as bifunctional electrocatalysts for ORR and OER reactions and Zn-air battery performance

This work aims to study the effect of different atmospheres and temperatures in the synthesis of a bifunctional electrocatalyst for ORR and OER reactions in the cathode of a Zn-air battery, using a carbonaceous support for dispersing Ni and Co species. At 300 °C, NiCo2O4 with a size of 4.93 nm under O2 and 150.14 nm using air, were obtained. These materials exhibited low specific surface area and pore volume and failed to show bifunctional activity. Instead, the simultaneous dispersion of NiO and CoO nanoparticles, with a size of 2.55 nm was achieved at 300 °C under N2 (NiCo/MC-N300), leading to a surface enrichment in Co2+ and Ni2+ species, while Ni and Co nanoparticles, 12.81 nm, were obtained at 700 °C under N2 (NiCo/MC-N700). These catalysts exhibited high specific surface area and pore volume, and bifunctional electrochemical activity; as well as high specific-capacity in a home-made Zn-air battery. [Display omitted] •Porous carbon support simultaneously dispersing Ni+Co or NiO+CoO nanoparticles.•The simultaneous dispersion of NiO and CoO nanoparticles exposing surface Co2+ and Ni2+/Ni3+ species.•Bifunctional electrocatalyst for ORR and OER reactions.•Bifunctional mesoporous electrocatalysts are active in the cathode of a prototype of Zn-air battery.