Enhanced Conductivity Boosts the Cathodic Performance of Aluminium-Doped SrTiO3 in Rechargeable Alkaline Zinc Battery.

Rechargeable alkaline zinc batteries (RAZBs) have attracted great attention due to their inexpensive use of electrode materials and high safety features. However, the development of RAZBs is restricted by their low capacity and volumetric energy density, mainly suffering from poor electric conductivity of the cathode. Aluminium-doped SrTiO₃ (1.0% Al-STO) has successfully enhanced the capacity of pristine STO from 387 to 646 mAh cm^-3 at a current density of 2 mA cm^-2. This may be attributed to the fact that Al doping improves electrical conductivity as well as promoting the transportation of ions/electrons. Based on the Nyquist plot, the charge-transfer resistance of Al-STO was reduced from 7.8 to 1.2 Ω, indicating the enhancement of electrical conductivity after Al doping. This outstanding electrochemical performance of Al-STO as cathode provide valuable insights for designing high-performance electrode for RAZBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]