Tungsten doping spin-state modulated co-based trifunctional electrocatalyst for high-performance zinc-air batteries

W doping regulates the Co spin configuration and optimizes its electronic structure • The Co-NC-p-W catalyst exhibits superior ORR, OER, and HER performance • Achieves 352.8 mW cm −2 peak power density and > 1700 h cycling in a zinc-air battery • Spin-state modulation accelerates multi-reaction electrocatalytic kinetics • Offers a promising strategy for durable multifunctional electrocatalysts Regulating the electronic spin state of transition metal centers has emerged as an effective strategy to optimize the catalytic activity of multifunctional electrocatalysts. In this work, we report a spin-state-engineered catalyst, Co-NC- p -W, in which the spin configuration of cobalt (Co) sites was modulated by tungsten (W) doping, thereby enhancing the catalyst's intrinsic activity toward multiple electrochemical reactions. A remarkable performance was demonstrated for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and an overpotential of 216 mV at 10 mA cm −2 for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In addition, the catalyst displays appreciable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity, requiring an overpotential of 210 mV at 10 mA cm −2 , demonstrating its additional electrocatalytic functionality. The Co-NC- p -W catalyst employed in a rechargeable zinc-air battery delivered a high peak power density of 352.8 mW cm −2 and an exceptional cycling stability exceeding 1700 h. This work highlights the critical role of spin-state modulation in designing efficient multifunctional electrocatalysts for advanced energy conversion and storage applications. Download: Download high-res image (200KB) Download: Download full-size image