Novel application of imidazole-based ligand-templated borates in a zinc-air battery.

Two templated borates, [Co(1-EI) 2 ]·[B 5 O 7 (OH) 3 ] (1) and [Ga(1-MI) 2 ·B 6 O 9 (OH) 4 ]·[H 3 BO 3 ]·H[1-MI] (2), have been synthesized using a mild method. Notably, they exhibit an excellent ORR performance with an E 1/2 value of 0.84 V and are the first to be used as the positive electrode catalyst for a zinc-air battery, which opens a pathway for the application of borate-based oxide catalysts.