@article { ISI:000362243500018,
	title = {Surface-tuned Co3O4 nanoparticles dispersed on nitrogen-doped graphene as an efficient cathode electrocatalyst for mechanical rechargeable zinc-air battery application},
	journal = {ACS Applied Materials \& Interfaces},
	volume = {7},
	number = {38},
	year = {2015},
	month = {SEP},
	pages = {21138-21149},
	publisher = {AMER CHEMICAL SOC},
	address = {1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA},
	abstract = {<p>The most vital component of the fuel cells and metal air batteries is the electrocatalyst, which can facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at a significantly reduced overpotential. The present work deals with the development of surface-tuned cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles dispersed on nitrogen-doped graphene as a potential ORR electrocatalyst possessing some unique advantages. The thermally reduced nitrogen-doped graphene (NGr) was decorated with three different morphologies of Co3O4 nanoparticles, viz., cubic, blunt edged cubic, and spherical, by using a simple hydrothermal method. We found that the spherical Co3O4 nanoparticle supported NGr catalyst (Co3O4-SP/NGr-24h) has acquired a significant activity makeover to display the ORR activity closely matching with the state-of-the-art Pt supported carbon (PtC) catalyst in alkaline medium. Subsequently, the Co3O4-SP/NGr-24h catalyst has been utilized as the air electrode in a Zn-air battery, which was found to show comparable performance to the system derived from PtC. Co3O4-SP/NGr-24h catalyst has shown several hours of flat discharge profile at the discharge rates of 10, 20, and 50 mA/cm(2) with a specific capacity and energy density of similar to 590 mAh/g(-zn) and,840 Wh/kg(-zn), respectively, in the primary Zn-air battery system. In conjunction, Co3O4-SP/NGr-24h has outperformed as an air electrode in mechanical rechargeable Zn-air battery as well, which has shown consistent flat discharge profile with minimal voltage loss at a discharge rate of 50 mA/cm(2). The present results, thus demonstrate that the proper combination of the tuned morphology of Co3O4 with NGr will be a promising and inexpensive material for efficient and ecofriendly cathodes for Zn-air batteries.</p>},
	keywords = {electrocatalyst, mixed facets, oxygen reduction reaction, rechargeable zinc-air battery, surface morphology},
	issn = {1944-8244},
	doi = {10.1021/acsami.5b04865},
	author = {Singh, Santosh K. and Dhavale, Vishal M. and Kurungot, Sreekumar}
}
