Work

Single Fe Atom on Hierarchically Porous S, N‐Codoped Nanocarbon Derived from Porphyra Enable Boosted Oxygen Catalysis for Rechargeable Zn‐Air Batteries

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Iron–nitrogen–carbon materials (Fe–N–C) are known for their excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance. Unfortunately, they generally show a laggard oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity, which results in a lethargic charging performance in rechargeable Zn–air batteries. Here porous S‐doped Fe–N–C nanosheets are innovatively synthesized utilizing a scalable FeCl3‐encapsulated‐porphyra precursor pyrolysis strategy. The obtained electrocatalyst exhibits ultrahigh ORR activity (E1/2 = 0.84 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode) and impressive OER performance (Ej = 10 = 1.64 V). The potential gap (ΔE = Ej = 10 − E1/2) is 0.80 V, outperforming that of most highly active bifunctional electrocatalysts reported to date. Furthermore, the key role of S involved in the atomically dispersed Fe–Nx species on the enhanced ORR and OER activities is expounded for the first time by ultrasound‐assisted extraction of the exclusive S source (taurine) from porphyra. Moreover, the assembled rechargeable Zn–air battery comprising this bifunctional electrocatalyst exhibits higher power density (225.1 mW cm−2) and lower charging–discharging overpotential (1.00 V, 100 mA cm−2 compared to Pt/C + RuO2 catalyst). The design strategy can expand the utilization of earth‐abundant biomaterial‐derived catalysts, and the mechanism investigations of S doping on the structure–activity relationship can inspire the progress of other functional electrocatalysts.

Source: Small

DOI: 10.1002/smll.201900307