Toward high performance of zinc-air battery using hydrophobic carbon foam-based diffusion electrode

Abstract

NaCl is used as template to form porous carbon during the carbonization procedure. It is found that the NaCl amount played an important role in the physical properties of hydrophobic carbon materials. When the current density increases from 0 to 50 mA cm−2, the obtained sample containing zinc-air battery potential decreases from +1.492 V and +1.040 V (vs. RHE); a potential drop very close to that of the Pt/C electrode (from +1.489 V to +1.043 V). It is also found that in continuous discharge operations at 25 mA cm−2, the obtained material exhibits a stable discharge behavior, comparable to Pt/C.