Conjugated Polyaniline–Phytic Acid Polymer Derived 3D N, P-Doped Porous Carbon as a Metal-Free Electrocatalyst for Zn–Air Batteries

The development of cost-effective and scalable air/oxygen electrode materials is crucial for the advancement of Zn–air batteries (ZABs). Porous carbon materials doped with heteroatoms have attracted considerable attention in energy and environmental fields because of their tunable nanoporosity and high electrical conductivity. In this work, we report the synthesis of a three-dimensional (3D) N and P co-doped porous carbon (PA@pDC-1000), derived from a conjugated polyaniline–phytic acid polymer. The cross-linked, rigid conjugated polymeric framework plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of micro- and mesoporous structures and promoting graphitization during carbonization. As a result, the material exhibits a hierarchical pore structure, a high specific surface area (1045 m2 g−1), and a large pore volume (1.02 cm3 g−1). The 3D N, P co-doped PA@pDC-1000 catalyst delivers a half-wave potential of 0.80 V (vs. RHE) and demonstrates a higher current density compared to commercial Pt/C. A primary ZAB utilizing this material achieves an open-circuit voltage of 1.51 V and a peak power density of 217 mW cm−2. This metal-free, self-templating presents a scalable route for the generating and producing of high-performance oxygen reduction reaction catalysts for ZABs.