Sulfate Ions Induced Concave Porous S‐N Co‐Doped Carbon Confined FeCx Nanoclusters with Fe‐N4 Sites for Efficient Oxygen Reduction in Alkaline and Acid Media. Issue 29 (18th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jin, Huihui; Zhao, Xin; Liang, Lvhan; Ji, Pengxia; Liu, Bingshuai; Hu, Chenxi; He, Daping; Mu, Shichun
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 17:Issue 29(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-06-18
• Subjects: concave porous structures -- FeCx nanoclusters -- Fe‐N 4 -- oxygen reduction reaction -- sulfate Ions; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202101001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: To improve the catalytic activity of the catalysts, it is key to intensifying the intrinsic activity of active sites or increasing the exposure of accessible active sites. In this work, an efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalyst is designed that confines plentiful FeC x nanoclusters with Fe‐N4 sites in a concave porous S‐N co‐doped carbon matrix, readily accessible for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Sulfate ions react with the carbon derived from ZIF‐8 at high temperatures, leading to the shrinkage of the carbon framework and then forming a concave structure with abundant macropores and mesopores with S incorporation. Such an architecture promotes the exposure of active sites and accelerates remote mass transfer. As a result, the catalyst (Fe/S‐NC) with a large number of C‐S‐C, Fe‐N4, and FeC x nanoclusters presents impressive ORR activity and stability. In alkaline media, the half‐wave potential of the best catalyst (Fe/S2 ‐NC) is 0.91 V, which far exceeds that of commercial platinum carbon (0.85 V), while in acidic media the half‐wave potential reaches 0.784 V, comparable to platinum carbon (0.812 V). Furthermore, for the zinc‐air battery, the outstanding peak power density of Fe/S2 ‐NC (170 mW cm −2 ) superior to platinum carbon (108 mW cm −2 ) also highlights its great application potential. Abstract : Sulfate ion induced concave porous S‐N co‐doped carbon confined FeC x nanoclusters with Fe‐N4 sites exhibit superior oxygen reduction reaction catalytic performance, which opens up a new direction for the development of cost‐effective non‐noble metal oxygen reduction catalysts.