Conversion of rice husk biomass into electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in Zn-air battery: Effect of self-doped Si on performance

An outstanding oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst is firstly developed deriving from sustainable rice husk (RH) biomass. Benefiting from self-doped Si in RH, the higher proportion of pyridine N, graphite N and expecially Fe-Nx as well as thiophene S contents were produced in Si-Fe/S/N-RH3 in comparison with those of Si-free Fe/S/N-RH3. Consequently, the half-wave potential of 0.89 V and the onset potential of 0.96 V are achieved for...