Scientists develop electrocatalysts for rechargeable metal-air battery from Fish gills

Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have developed an efficient, low-cost electro-catalyst from fish gills. The catalyst can help develop environmentally friendly renewable energy conversion and storage technologies.

Electro-catalyst:
♦ The bio-inspired carbon nanostructure will overcome the bottleneck in the realization of several renewable energy conversion and storage technologies such as fuel cell, biofuel cell, and metal-air battery.
♦ The strategy will enrich a route to bioinspired electrocatalyst that is better than commercial Platinum on carbon (Pt/C) catalysts.
♦ It can be utilized as next-generation nonprecious carbon-based electrocatalyst for energy conversion and storage applications. 
♦ In this method, the air is used as a catalyst along with a rechargeable Zn-air battery (ZAB). 
♦ With careful selection of transition metals, the synthesis protocol can pave a new way for low-cost electrocatalysts for efficient and environmentally friendly energy conversion devices.