Issue 23, 2021

Atomic Fe–N5 catalytic sites embedded in N-doped carbon as a highly efficient oxygen electrocatalyst for zinc–air batteries

Abstract

Atomically dispersed transition metal–Nx–C-based catalysts with abundant Fe–Nx active sites have demonstrated good prospects for the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) and are promising alternatives to Pt-based electrocatalysts. However, further improving their ORR activity by precise modulation of the Fe–Nx site structure remains challenging. Herein, we synthesize a single-iron-atom electrocatalyst embedded in N-doped carbon with active and robust five-coordinated Fe–N5 moieties by a simple synthetic approach. The FeN5–C/G catalyst is obtained through prolonged calcination of melamine and hemin co-adsorbed on oxide graphene. The catalyst exhibits enhanced ORR activity in alkaline mediums with an admirable half-wave potential of 0.84 V, outperforming FeN4–C, which has four-coordinated Fe–N4 moieties. Zn–air batteries with a FeN5–C/G air cathode further demonstrate the excellent ORR performance and stability of the catalyst, outperforming the commercial Pt/C catalyst. The remarkable ORR performance demonstrates the significant roles of mono-dispersed FeN5 active sites embedded in N-doped carbon, in which N-doped graphene supplies enough N sites to axially coordinate with FeN4.

Graphical abstract: Atomic Fe–N5 catalytic sites embedded in N-doped carbon as a highly efficient oxygen electrocatalyst for zinc–air batteries

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
06 Wax 2021
Accepted
01 Onk 2021
First published
06 Onk 2021

Mater. Chem. Front., 2021,5, 8127-8137

Atomic Fe–N5 catalytic sites embedded in N-doped carbon as a highly efficient oxygen electrocatalyst for zinc–air batteries

H. Zhang, S. Jia, X. Shi, Z. Li, B. Liu, N. Li, Y. Li, S. Hu and H. Wang, Mater. Chem. Front., 2021, 5, 8127 DOI: 10.1039/D1QM00809A

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