Understanding of Neighboring Fe-N4-C and Co-N4-C Dual Active Centers for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Single atomic dispersed M-N-C (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, etc.) composites display excellent performance for catalytic reactions. However, the analysis and understanding of neighboring M-N-C centers at the atomic level are still insufficient. Here, FeCo-N-doped hollow carbon nanocages (FeCo-N-HCN) with neighboring Fe-N-4-C and Co-N-4-C dual active centers as efficient catalysts are reported. Spherical aberration-corrected high angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, small area (1 nm(2)) electron energy loss spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy data analysis and fitting prove the neighboring Fe-N-4-C and Co-N-4-C dual active structure in FeCo-N-HCN. Experimental tests and density functional theory calculation results reveal that the FeCo-N-HCN catalyst displays better catalytic activity than Fe single-metal catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is attributed to the synergistic effect of Fe-N-4-C and Co-N-4-C dual active centers reducing the reaction energy barriers for ORR. Although the catalytic performance of the FeCo-N-HCN catalyst is not comparable to the-state-of-art catalysts reported due to the low metal contents (Fe: 1.96 wt% and Co: 1.31 wt%), these results can refresh the understanding of neighboring M-N-C centers at the atomic level and provide guidance for the design of catalysts in the future.

Automated summary

The study reports FeCo-N-doped hollow carbon nanocages as efficient catalysts with neighboring Fe-N-4-C and Co-N-4-C dual active centers, showing better catalytic activity than Fe single-metal catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction. This highlights the important role of synergy between dual active centers in reducing the reaction energy barriers for ORR.