The attainment of practicality in flexible Al-air batteries is impeded by the need for efficient air cathodes. To address this challenge, we systematically engineered the trimetallic (ZnCoFe)NC catalyst with a unique morphology of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) on the 3D polyhedral structure (IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC) as an effective cathode. The augmented growth of NCNT facilitated by the metal-coordinated ionic liquid enhances both the specific surface area and the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA). As a result, IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC material exhibits a higher onset (1.0 V vs RHE) and half-wave potential (E = 0.89 V vs. RHE) as well as low Tafel slope (61 mV/dec) and surpassed the bare MOF-derived catalysts and Pt/C. E decreased by only 7 mV after the stability test describes the durability and fast reaction kinetics in the ORR. Upon testing on flexible Al-air with IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC cathode catalysts, it exhibited an OCV of 1.49 V and a peak power density of 34.7 mW cm with 1.3 times higher power performance than the commercial Pt/C along with 3 times longevity than bare catalysts. Additionally, the Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations provide rational evidence that the IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC catalyst has an upshifted d-band center, which, in turn, enhances the adsorption of reaction intermediates, making the catalyst highly promising towards ORR.

中文翻译：

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通过金属配位离子液体封装的三金属核壳 MOF 衍生催化剂定制高密度活性位点，以在柔性铝空气电池中实现卓越的 ORR

对高效空气阴极的需求阻碍了柔性铝空气电池的实用化。为了应对这一挑战，我们系统地设计了三金属 (ZnCoFe)NC 催化剂，该催化剂在 3D 多面体结构 (IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC) 上具有独特的氮掺杂碳纳米管 (NCNT) 形态，作为有效的阴极。金属配位离子液体促进 NCNT 的增强生长，提高了比表面积和电化学活性表面积 (ECSA)。因此，IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC 材料表现出较高的起始电压（相对于 RHE 为 1.0 V）和半波电位（相对于 RHE，E = 0.89 V）以及较低的塔菲尔斜率 (61 mV/dec)，并超过了裸露的 MOF 衍生催化剂和 Pt/C。稳定性测试后 E 仅下降 7 mV，描述了 ORR 的耐久性和快速反应动力学。在使用 IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC 阴极催化剂的柔性铝空气上进行测试时，其 OCV 为 1.49 V，峰值功率密度为 34.7 mW cm，功率性能比商用 Pt/C 高 1.3 倍，同时也是商用 Pt/C 的 3 倍。比裸催化剂寿命更长。此外，密度泛函理论（DFT）计算提供了合理的证据，表明IL-ZnCoFe@CNT/NC催化剂具有上移的d带中心，这反过来又增强了反应中间体的吸附，使该催化剂在ORR。