Oxygen electrode based on cobalt-decorated electrospun carbon nanofibers for alkaline metal-air batteries

Metal-air batteries are envisaged as next-generation batteries, with extraordinary high energy densities (depending on the metal used, Li, Na, Zn, Al, Mg, Fe...). These devices represent a promising future for a clean and sustainable storage of energy. Bifunctional electrodes able to carry out both the reduction of oxygen (oxygen reduction reaction, ORR) and the oxidation of water (also known as oxygen evolution reaction, OER) are of vital importance for the progress of this technology. In the last few years, research has focused on the development of highly efficient oxygen reduction/ evolution catalysts based on transition metals, such as Co, Fe, Mn, La, etc , in the form of mixed oxides (perovskites, spinels, etc), or advanced carbon materials, such as N or S-doped carbon materials, like graphene, or macrocycles incorporating transition metals . The novelty of the present work regards on the use of carbon nanofibers supported CoO/Co as bifunctional catalyst for rechargeable metal-air batteries. Besides, the material has been obtained by a simple and easy-scalable process, electrospinning of polyacrilonitrile and Co-precursors, giving rise to a Co-based material in combination with a highly resistant carbon, electrospun carbon nanofibers.