Zinc-assisted MgO template synthesis of porous carbon-supported Fe-Nx sites for efficient oxygen reduction reaction catalysis in Zn-air batteries

Atomically dispersed iron-nitrogen-carbon catalysts offer great potential in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), yet the poor exposure and low density of Fe-Nx sites causes relatively low ORR activity. Herein, a zinc-assisted MgO template strategy is reported to construct porous carbon-supported Fe-N4...

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Published in:Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2022-09, Vol.313, p.121454, Article 121454
Main Authors: Lu, Xiangyu, Xu, Hao, Yang, Peixia, Xiao, Lihui, Li, Yaqiang, Ma, Jingyuan, Li, Ruopeng, Liu, Lilai, Liu, Anmin, Kondratiev, Veniamin, Levin, Oleg, Zhang, Jinqiu, An, Maozhong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomically dispersed catalysts
Batteries
Carbon
Catalysis
Catalysts
Chemical reduction
Fe-N4 sites
Finite element method
Iron
Magnesium oxide
Mathematical models
Metal air batteries
Nanoparticles
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Oxygen reduction
Oxygen reduction reactions
Porous structure
Zinc
Zinc-oxygen batteries
Zn-air batteries
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Summary:Atomically dispersed iron-nitrogen-carbon catalysts offer great potential in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), yet the poor exposure and low density of Fe-Nx sites causes relatively low ORR activity. Herein, a zinc-assisted MgO template strategy is reported to construct porous carbon-supported Fe-N4 sites (Fe-N-C). Iron atoms surrounded by zinc species are converted to abundant Fe-N4 sites rather than Fe containing nanoparticles. Meanwhile, both the zinc species and the MgO template can effectively produce porous structure so as to increase the utilization of Fe-N4 sites. Fe-N-C achieves superior ORR performance and stability in alkaline medium. Theoretical calculations manifest that Fe-N4 sites can narrow the energy barrier for ORR. Moreover, finite element simulation exhibits the porous framework in Fe-N-C could significantly accelerate the diffusion of O2. Therefore, Fe-N-C provides a high peak power density and superior discharge ability toward Zn-air batteries. [Display omitted] •Atomically dispersed Fe-N-C are prepared by zinc-assisted template strategy.•High density of Fe-Nx and hierarchical porosity boost oxygen reduction reaction.•The porous framework of Fe-N-C could significantly accelerate the diffusion of O2.•The catalyst exhibits an excellent performance in Zn-air batteries.
ISSN:0926-3373
1873-3883
DOI:10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121454