This technology features a 3D hierarchical porous carbon-doped metal oxide nanostructure based on an inverse opal framework, containing both macro- and mesopores. It functions as a bifunctional catalyst that promotes both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in batteries.
Conventional carbon-based electrode catalysts suffer from high overpotential during the oxygen evolution reaction, which reduces the cycle life and efficiency of metal-air batteries. Metal oxide nanoparticle catalysts often aggregate, failing to provide sufficient surface area and porosity, which limits their ability to increase battery capacity.
This technology involves coating a substrate with a solution containing metal oxide precursors, block copolymers like Pluronic P123/F127, and polystyrene template beads, followed by self-assembly and a single sintering process at 450–1000°C. During this process, the beads are removed to create macropores, the precursors are converted into oxides, and the block copolymers are carbonized to simultaneously form carbon dopants and mesopores. Applicable to air electrodes for lithium-air, zinc-air, and aluminum-air batteries, as well as visible-light-responsive photocatalysts and water electrolysis oxygen evolution electrodes, this single-sintering process secures both reaction sites and oxygen/electrolyte diffusion pathways, enabling high specific capacities exceeding 6,000 mAh/g.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for research on improving photoelectric conversion efficiency through the derivation of hybrid nanostructures that maximize plasmonic coupling effects.
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