Research Projects

The rechargeable Zn-air battery (ZAB) is a crucial energy storage and conversion application, particularly in flexible devices. However, the half-open configuration of ZABs requires careful fabrication of air electrodes, particularly in the trade-off between oxygen release and oxygen reduction kinetics. To accelerate the interfacial charge-transfer kinetics, novel bifunctional electrocatalysts with balanced electrochemical dynamics are needed. Topological insulators (TIs) have gained popularity due to their anisotropic character and distinct electrical properties. Bismuth chalcogenides with sulfur and tellurium chalcogen are the most investigated materials, but have not been extensively explored in the field of ZABs. TIs typically have excellent carrier mobility and strong influence on the density of states close to the Fermi energy level. However, experimentally, these materials face substantial volume variation during electrochemical cycling, resulting in poor catalytic activity. The proposal focuses on rational nanostructural engineering of TI with bimetallic oxide using a simple bottom-up solution phase synthesis involving seed-mediated process and redox chemistry at low temperatures. This solution-grown high-quality 2D TI-based nanocomposite can mitigate stability issues and enhance electronic properties, allowing for tunable bifunctional ORR or OER behavior in rechargeable ZABs.