<i>In Situ</i> Construction of Perovskite Pr _0.5 Ba _0.5 Mn _0.8 Co _0.1 Ru _0.1 O _2.5+δ /CoRu Nanoparticles with Co–N–C Composite Enabling Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Zinc‐

Bifunctional catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are essential components of rechargeable zinc-air batteries. In this study, we synthesized a Pr_0.5Ba_0.5Mn_0.8Co_0.1Ru_0.1O_2.5+δ (PBMCRO) perovskite composite with in situ exsolved CoRu nanoparticles and Co-N-C, functioning as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for zinc-air batteries. The in situ exsolution of CoRu nanoparticles from the perovskite oxide was facilitated by the reducing action of 2-methylimidazole (2-MIM). Concurrently, Co-N-C was used to decorate PBMCRO, forming a novel bifunctional composite electrode of Co-N-C-PBMCRO. The incorporation of CoRu nanoparticles introduces a significant number of electrochemically active oxygen vacancies in the perovskite matrix, enhancing ORR and OER performance. Additionally, the Co-N-C synergistically improves electrochemical activity while preserving the structural stability of the perovskite oxide. The prepared Co-N-C-PBMCRO catalyst demonstrates significantly enhanced bifunctional performance compared to the undecorated pristine perovskite Pr_0.5Ba_0.5MnO_3-δ (PBMO). The zinc-air battery with Co-N-C-PBMCRO catalyst achieve a peak power density of approximately 90 mW/cm² and exhibit remarkable cycling stability for 788 h. This study presents a novel and effective strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of perovskite-based air electrodes for rechargeable metal-air batteries.