Engineering an iron atom-cluster nanostructure towards efficient and durable electrocatalysis

Iron-based catalysts have demonstrated fascinating activities in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), especially due to the synergistic effect between atoms and clusters, but challenging for further improvement. Herein, a strategy is developed to optimize the catalyst with nitrogen-coordinated Fe si...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2023-04, Vol.11 (15), p.822-8212
Main Authors: Zheng, Feng-Yi, Li, Ruisong, Xi, Shibo, Ai, Fei, Wang, Jike
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic clusters
Catalysts
Chemical reduction
Energy storage
Iron
Metal air batteries
Oxygen reduction reactions
Specific capacity
Synergistic effect
Zinc-oxygen batteries
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Summary:Iron-based catalysts have demonstrated fascinating activities in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), especially due to the synergistic effect between atoms and clusters, but challenging for further improvement. Herein, a strategy is developed to optimize the catalyst with nitrogen-coordinated Fe single atoms (SAs) and closely surrounding Fe atomic clusters (ACs) towards efficient ORR. The Fe SA /Fe AC -NC 900 delivers excellent ORR activity with half-wave potential ( E 1/2 ) in both acidic (0.80 V) and alkaline (0.90 V) media, as well as superior stability. Theoretical calculations further reveal that the synergistic effects of Fe-based SAs and ACs along with porous structures can decrease the overall energy barrier in the ORR process. Besides, the Fe SA /Fe AC -NC 900-based zinc-air battery manifests a high peak power density (214.3 mW cm −2 ) and a high-specific capacity (773.6 mA h g −1 ). This work provides a new perspective to highly optimize the synergistic interaction of SAs and ACs for boosting activity and energy storage. The synergistic effect of Fe-based single-atoms and clusters in porous structures has significantly boosted the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, selectivity, and stability, as well as the application in energy storage.
ISSN:2050-7488
2050-7496
DOI:10.1039/d3ta00232b