Trifunctional electrocatalysts of ternary iron–copper–molybdenum Schiff base complexes applied to Zn–air battery and alkaline water splitting

Abstract

The study developed a trifunctional electrocatalyst in which Mo provides Fe_0.5Cu_0.5–SB complexes with versatile multifunctional electrocatalytic activity. Fe_0.5Cu_0.5Mo_0.5–SB-400 can serve as an electrocatalyst for the ORR, while Fe_0.5Cu_0.5Mo_0.5–SB-600 and Fe_0.5Cu_0.5Mo_0.5–SB-300 are promising for the OER and HER. The Fe_0.5Cu_0.5Mo_0.5–SB-400/C electrodes exhibited good discharge power density in the Zn–air battery, outperforming both commercial Pt/C and Pt/C + RuO₂. The HER and OER overpotentials at 100 mA cm⁻² of current density for Fe_0.5Cu_0.5Mo_0.5–SB complexes are superior to those of well-developed noble electrocatalysts. The tunable electrocatalytic activity of Fe_0.5Cu_0.5Mo_0.5–SB opens an avenue for designing low-cost trifunctional electrocatalysts and can be applied for the Zn–air battery and alkaline water splitting.