Cobalt decorated nitrogen-doped carbon bowls as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

Cobalt decorated nitrogen-doped carbon bowls (Co@NCB) have been successfully constructed by impregnating bowl-like resin particles with cobalt salt followed by annealing. The cobalt exists as two forms in the obtained Co@NCB: Co nanoparticles and CoN4. The Co@NCB outperforms commercial Pt/C in oxygen reduction reaction in terms of half-wave potential and stability. When applied in zinc-air batteries, a high open-circuit voltage, excellent power density, and satisfactory stability are achieved.