In situ synthesis of Co–TiN heterostructure composites for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

The pursuit of cost-effective yet highly active electrocatalysts has driven increasing interest in non-noble metal-based materials as alternatives to precious metal catalysts. In this work, a cobalt–titanium nitride (Co–TiN) heterostructured catalyst was rationally constructed and in situ embedded within a nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) matrix. The Co–TiN/NC catalyst was obtained through a one-pot solid-state pyrolysis process conducted at 1000 °C. Electrochemical evaluation reveals that the as-prepared catalyst delivers excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, achieving a half-wave potential of 0.81 V and a limiting current density of 5.69 mA cm⁻², which are comparable to those of commercial platinum/carbon (Pt/C) catalysts. Beyond ORR performance, the Co–TiN/NC catalyst demonstrates outstanding durability and practical applicability in zinc–air batteries, maintaining stable discharge behavior over 400 cycles and delivering a maximum power density of 254.4 mW cm⁻². These results highlight the potential of Co–TiN heterostructures supported on NC as efficient and sustainable electrocatalysts, offering a promising pathway toward reducing dependence on noble metals in clean energy technologies.