Synthesis of a Zn/Fe–N–C electrocatalyst towards efficient oxygen reduction reaction via a facile one-pot method

Abstract

Abstract The high price and unsatisfactory stability of Pt-based catalysts for the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) severely limit the development of fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Therefore, developing Pt-free electrocatalysts with excellent activities and stabilities is significant. Herein, an efficient Zn/Fe–N–C electrocatalyst is synthesized via a facile one-pot method. Owing to its curved nanosheet structure, appropriate microporous and mesoporous specific surface areas, abundant defects and high Fe–Nx content, Zn/Fe–N–C exhibits remarkable ORR activity and stability in alkaline electrolyte. Its half-wave potential is 0.843 V, which is 10 mV higher than that of Pt/C. Moreover, Zn/Fe–N–C also manifests satisfactory performance in a practical Zn-air battery. Its maximum output power density is 108.5 mW cm−2, which is equivalent to that of Pt/C. In this work, a simple synthesis method for highly active ORR electrocatalyst is provided, which can be implemented for the future design and synthesis of electrocatalysts used in fuel cells and metal-air batteries.