Conversion and storage of renewable energy is an important step towards the sustainable future. In this work, we have combined photoconversion of solar energy and Zn–air batteries in a single device which could be an effective strategy for augmenting energy conversion and storage. We report the synthesis of inexpensive cobalt-doped 2D δ-MnO₂ nanosheets by one-pot hydrothermal method. Spectroscopic and microscopic characterizations prove both in-plane and interplanar doping of cobalt in δ-MnO₂ structure. The as-prepared catalyst shows the bifunctional catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction as well as oxygen evolution reaction in presence and absence of visible light. Under light conditions, δ-MnO₂ shows 11.56% increment in bifunctional activity. Moreover, the doped MnO₂ sample exhibits 19.23% increment in bifunctional activity as compared with pristine δ-MnO₂. Upon light irradiation, the doped MnO₂ cathode electrode can execute four times enhancement in power density, 2.38% improvement in voltage difference between charging and discharging and 16.26% increment in round-trip efficiency. This work provides a simple and easy method to prepare stable and durable photoactive bifunctional catalysts for energy storage applications.

可再生能源的转化和存储是迈向可持续未来的重要一步。在这项工作中，我们将太阳能和Zn-空气电池的光转换结合在单个设备中，这可能是增加能量转换和存储的有效策略。我们报告便宜钴掺杂的2Dδ-的MnO的合成_2个纳米片通过一锅水热法。光谱及微观表征两个面内和面间在δ-MnO的钴的掺杂证明₂结构。所制备的催化剂在存在和不存在可见光的情况下显示出对氧还原反应以及氧释放反应的双功能催化活性。下光照条件下，δ-的MnO ₂显示双功能活动增加11.56％。此外，掺杂的MnO ₂在双功能活性样品表现出19.23％的增量与原始δ-MnO的比较₂。在光照射下，掺杂的MnO ₂阴极可以实现四倍的功率密度提高，充电和放电之间的电压差提高2.38％，往返效率提高16.26％。这项工作为制备用于储能应用的稳定耐用的光敏双官能催化剂提供了一种简单易行的方法。