Amide-functionalized carbon supports for cobalt oxide toward oxygen reduction reaction in Zn-air battery

- The amide-groups are grafted over carbon surface via a simple solvothermal route.
- Cobalt oxides of 2 nm uniformly supporting on the carbon blacks were synthesized.
- CoOx/XCN shows superior ORR activity than CoOx/XC and CoOx/XCO.
- The enhanced ORR activity is contributed to the higher content of CoO in composite.