Highly ordered nanoarrays catalysts embedded in carbon nanotubes as highly efficient and robust air electrode for flexible solid-state rechargeable zinc-air batteries

[Display omitted] •A simple method for synthesizing multifunctional N-CNTs@MOF FeCo@CC nanoarrays catalysts.•Electrode materials perform efficiently for ORR, OER, and HER in alkaline solutions.•The N-CNTs@MOF FeCo@CC nanoarrays catalyst was developed as a free-standing air-electrode for zinc-air batteries.•The zinc-air batteries exhibit outstanding battery performance and cyclic stability. The development of multicomponent materials is the most efficient and successful way for creating advanced multifunctional catalysts. Herein, the bimetal FeCo nanoarrays enclosed N-CNTs have a high surface on carbon cloth support, which promotes efficient electron transport and prevents nanoparticle aggregation. Taking advantage of the high-level use of active material and fast charge transfer, the developed electrocatalyst exhibits excellent multifunctional electrocatalyst such as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The N-CNTs@MOF FeCo nanoarrays @CC exhibit higher activity than reference catalysts including MOF FeCo nanoarrays@CC, FeCo nanoarrays@CC, and CC. Interestingly, the synthesized multifunctional catalyst, which serves as the air electrode in zinc-air batteries with liquid electrolytes as well as solid-state gel electrolytes possesses outstanding charging-discharge performance and long service life. This study provides enormous potential for the real implementation of portable, even wearable, and efficient rechargeable batteries in the future.