Journal of Bionic Engineering ›› 2022, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (4): 1014-1023.doi: 10.1007/s42235-022-00173-5

• • 上一篇    

3D-Printed Bio-inspired Multi-channel Cathodes for Zinc–air Battery Applications

Xin Men1, Zhiyuan Li1, Wei Yang2, Mi Wang2, Song Liang1, Hang Sun1, Zhenning Liu1, Guolong Lu1   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, Jilin, People’s Republic of China  2 Engineering College, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, People’s Republic of China
  • 收稿日期:2021-08-01 修回日期:2022-01-25 接受日期:2022-01-29 出版日期:2022-09-22 发布日期:2022-09-22
  • 通讯作者: Zhenning Liu, Guolong Lu E-mail:liu_zhenning@jlu.edu.cn, guolonglu@jlu.edu.cn
  • 作者简介:Xin Men1, Zhiyuan Li1, Wei Yang2, Mi Wang2, Song Liang1, Hang Sun1, Zhenning Liu1, Guolong Lu1

3D-Printed Bio-inspired Multi-channel Cathodes for Zinc–air Battery Applications

Xin Men1, Zhiyuan Li1, Wei Yang2, Mi Wang2, Song Liang1, Hang Sun1, Zhenning Liu1, Guolong Lu1   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, Jilin, People’s Republic of China  2 Engineering College, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, People’s Republic of China
  • Received:2021-08-01 Revised:2022-01-25 Accepted:2022-01-29 Online:2022-09-22 Published:2022-09-22
  • Contact: Zhenning Liu, Guolong Lu E-mail:liu_zhenning@jlu.edu.cn, guolonglu@jlu.edu.cn
  • About author:Xin Men1, Zhiyuan Li1, Wei Yang2, Mi Wang2, Song Liang1, Hang Sun1, Zhenning Liu1, Guolong Lu1

摘要: It is of great significance to enhance mass transfer and improve active surface area in cathodes for zinc–air batteries (ZABs), which promote oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency and power outputs. Nature has endowed some tissues with special structures to have efficient mass transfer properties and high active surface area. As an important mass transfer part of trees, xylem contains massive long and partially aligned channels, which provides numerous “passageway” and high active surface area for plants to facilitate the efficient transport of oxygen and inorganic salts. The multi-channel structures give an important insight to develop high efficient air cathode. Herein, 3D-printed bio-inspired multi-channel cathodes (BMCs), inspired by xylem structures, have been developed for high-performance ZABs via 3D printing. Channels of bionic cathode contribute to forming a continuous supply of oxygen from air. As a result, massive tri-phase boundary regions, where ORR happens, are formed inside of cathode. Moreover, the 3D-printed metal-based framework can facilitate electron transfer during ORR process. Benefiting from the multi-channel framework, the assembled ZABs with BMC-600 show excellent electrochemical performances in terms of the high power density of 170.1 mW cm?2 and a high open-circuit voltage of 1.51 V. Therefore, BMCs provide a potential alternative as promising cathode for metal–air batteries.

关键词: Zinc–air battery , · Bio-inspired , · 3D printing , · Mass transfer

Abstract: It is of great significance to enhance mass transfer and improve active surface area in cathodes for zinc–air batteries (ZABs), which promote oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency and power outputs. Nature has endowed some tissues with special structures to have efficient mass transfer properties and high active surface area. As an important mass transfer part of trees, xylem contains massive long and partially aligned channels, which provides numerous “passageway” and high active surface area for plants to facilitate the efficient transport of oxygen and inorganic salts. The multi-channel structures give an important insight to develop high efficient air cathode. Herein, 3D-printed bio-inspired multi-channel cathodes (BMCs), inspired by xylem structures, have been developed for high-performance ZABs via 3D printing. Channels of bionic cathode contribute to forming a continuous supply of oxygen from air. As a result, massive tri-phase boundary regions, where ORR happens, are formed inside of cathode. Moreover, the 3D-printed metal-based framework can facilitate electron transfer during ORR process. Benefiting from the multi-channel framework, the assembled ZABs with BMC-600 show excellent electrochemical performances in terms of the high power density of 170.1 mW cm?2 and a high open-circuit voltage of 1.51 V. Therefore, BMCs provide a potential alternative as promising cathode for metal–air batteries.

Key words: Zinc–air battery , · Bio-inspired , · 3D printing , · Mass transfer