In Situ Grown CoMn2O4 3D‐Tetragons on Carbon Cloth: Flexible Electrodes for Efficient Rechargeable Zinc–Air Battery Powered Water Splitting Systems

Abstract

The integration of energy conversion and storage systems such as electrochemical water splitting (EWS) and rechargeable zinc–air battery (ZAB) is on the vision to provide a sustainable future with green energy resources. Herein, a unique strategy for decorating 3D tetragonal CoMn₂O₄ on carbon cloth (CMO–U@CC) via a facile one-pot in situ hydrothermal process, is reported. The highly exposed morphology of 3D tetragons enhances the electrocatalytic activity of CMO–U@CC. This is the first demonstration of such a bifunctional activity of CMO–U@CC in an EWS system; it achieves a nominal cell voltage of 1.610 V @ 10 mA cm⁻². Similarly, the fabricated rechargeable ZAB delivers a specific capacity of 641.6 mAh g_zn⁻¹, a power density of 135 mW cm⁻², and excellent cyclic stability (50 h @ 10 mA cm⁻²). Additionally, a series of flexible solid-state ZABs are fabricated and employed to power the assembled CMO–U@CC-based water electrolyzer. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an in situ-grown binder-free CMO–U@CC as a flexible multifunctional electrocatalyst for a built-in integrated rechargeable ZAB-powered EWS system.