Co7Fe3 Nanoparticles Confined in N-Doped Carbon Nanocubes for Highly Efficient, Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries

Active component management and microengineering of metal nanoparticles are significant challenges for efficient M/ N/C electrocatalysts, as a crucial electrode material for reversible zinc-air batteries, because of the lack of a multifunctional structural strategy in the electrocatalytic preparation process. Here, a convenient, one-step pyrolysis method was introduced into the preparation process of a difunctional electrocatalyst, an Fe-, Co-, and N-codoped carbon-based cube hybrid (Co7Fe3/CFNC) with abundant active components, including metallic Co7Fe3 nanoparticles and Fe/Co-Nx species. The as-constructed Co7Fe3/CFNC demonstrates impressive activity/stability for ORR/OER. Moreover, practical zinc-air battery building with Co7Fe3/CFNC electrocatalysts reveals a superior cycling stability for 224 h. Our work could educate a new applicable branch for designing multifunctional catalysts and regulating their active sites to apply the energy and environment.

Automated summary

This study introduces a convenient method to prepare a difunctional catalyst with abundant active components through one-step pyrolysis. The catalyst, which is an Fe-, Co-, and N-codoped carbon-based cube hybrid, exhibits impressive activity and stability in electrocatalysis. Furthermore, it shows superior cycling stability in practical applications for zinc-air batteries.