Promoting oxygen reduction kinetics of single Fe sites for robust neutral Zn-air batteries via engineering synergistic Fe nanocluster as proton-feeding center

Ren Xu, Xingkun Wang, Mingzi Sun, Canhui Zhang, Cheng Li, Zhengwen Cao, Meng Gu, Bolong Huang, Minghua Huang

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Constructing highly efficient and cost-effective catalysts for neutral oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) remains extremely challenging due to the sluggish reaction kinetics resulting from the low ionic conductivity and limited OH concentration in the neutral electrolytes. Herein, we intentionally integrate the atomic Fe-N4 sites and Fe nanoclusters on N-doped multimodally porous carbon (FeSA+NC@NMPC) to achieve coherent optimization of rapid oxygen-containing intermediate conversions and fast water dissociation to provide abundant protons for boosting neutral ORR performance. As expected, the FeSA+NC@NMPC exhibits an excellent half-wave potential of 0.76 V in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solutions, outperforming that of commercial Pt/C (0.73 V). Theoretical calculations reveal the synergistic effect between atomic Fe-N4 sites and Fe nanoclusters, in which the former possess stable O2 adsorption and rapid intermediate conversion, while the latter facilitates fast water dissociation to supply protons for accelerating the proton-coupled electron transfer process. Moreover, the FeSA+NC@NMPC-based neutral zinc-air batteries afford a high open-circuit potential of 1.42 V and outstanding cycling stability at 5 mA cm−2 for 100 h. This work utilizes the advantages of both single sites and clusters of Fe to provide an in-depth understanding of the neutral ORR mechanism and advances the development of related energy storage and conversion technologies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number146065
JournalChemical Engineering Journal
Volume475
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2023

Keywords

  • Fe single atomic sites
  • Neutral Zinc-air batteries
  • Oxygen reduction reaction
  • Synergistic effect
  • Water dissociation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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