Topologically transformed CoSe2 for enhanced ethanol electrolysis in high-efficiency water splitting and zinc–ethanol–air batteries

X Xin Lai D Dengke Zhang (Siyuan laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632,) X Xuan Tan (Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, .) J Jinchang Xu (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Terahertz Quantum Electromagnetics, GBA Branch of Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences 2 , Guangzhou 510700, Guangdong,) T Tianli He (Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, .) M Mingjuan Zhang (Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632,) Y Yongqi Jian (Siyuan laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632,) Y Yanshuo Jin (Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632,) N Nan Wang X Xiyun Zhang (Siyuan laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632,) H Hui Meng (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)

Abstract

Spin engineering has garnered significant attention due to its ability to modulate the interaction between active sites and reaction intermediates, thereby enhancing catalytic kinetics. In this study, we present a strategy to tune the coordination environment of Co via topological transformation, effectively modulating its spin state. The resulting CoSexOy-200 exhibited enhanced catalytic kinetics toward ethanol oxidation reaction, achieving a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a low potential of 1.34 V. The improved catalytic performance is attributed to a topochemical transition-induced spin reconstruction, optimizing the adsorption of reaction intermediates. Building on these findings, the catalyst was further applied to a zinc–ethanol–air battery, leading to a decrease in charging voltage and a narrowed charge–discharge voltage window, which is less than 650 mV. This study establishes a controllable spin-state modulation strategy via topochemical transformation, paving the way for the rational design of advanced electrocatalyst for water electrolysis and next-generation zinc–ethanol–air batteries.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 126, Issue 23
Published June 09, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

X

Xin Lai

D

Dengke Zhang

Siyuan laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632,

X

Xuan Tan

Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, .

J

Jinchang Xu

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Terahertz Quantum Electromagnetics, GBA Branch of Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences 2 , Guangzhou 510700, Guangdong,

T

Tianli He

Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, .

M

Mingjuan Zhang

Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632,

Y

Yongqi Jian

Siyuan laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632,

Y

Yanshuo Jin

Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632,

N

Nan Wang

X

Xiyun Zhang

Siyuan laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University 1 , Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632,

H

Hui Meng

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering