The power density of metal-air batteries is limited by the rate of oxygen diffusion at air cathodes. As the performance of air cathodes improves, metal anodes in these cells must also be re-configured to electrochemically oxidize more rapidly than is now possible with existing electrodes. Our research seeks to increase the power density of iron-air batteries beyond that of bulk forms of iron. We design and prepare macroporous carbon nanofoams as 3D-porous current collectors that support and make electronic contact to nanostructured iron oxide coatings. Carbon nanofoams are lightweight, flexible, and present large interfaces that are interconnected via networks of 1-5 �m macropores. Iron oxides uniformly deposit throughout macropores (SEM/EDS) when using an existing protocol. The resulting FeOx-coated carbon nanofoams perform as electrochemical capacitors (76 F g-1), and also as iron-air battery anodes when subsequently electroreduced to metallic iron that reversibly discharges up to 276 mA h g-1.

Carbon nanofoams as scaffolds for iron-air anodes

245th National Meeting (2013)

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