Regulated electronic structure and improved electrocatalytic performances of S-doped FeWO4 for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

The exploration of active and long-lived oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts for the commercial-ization of zinc-air batteries are of immense significance but challenging. Herein, the sulfur doped FeWO4 embedded in the multi-dimensional nitrogen-doped carbon structure (S-FeWO4/NC) was success-fully synthesized. The doped S atoms optimized the charge distribution in FeWO4 and enhanced the intrinsic activity. At the same time, S doping accelerated the formation of reaction intermediates during the adsorption reduction of O2 on the surface of S-FeWO4/NC. Accordingly, the S-FeWO4/NC catalyst showed more positive half-wave potential (0.85 V) and better stability than that of the FeWO4/NC cata-lyst. Furthermore, the S-FeWO4/NC-based zinc-air battery exhibited considerable power density of 150.3 mW cm-2, high specific capacity of 912.7 mA h g 1, and prominent cycle stability up to 220 h. This work provides an assistance to the development of cheap and efficient tungsten-based oxygen reduction cat-alysts and the promotion of its application in the zinc-air battery.(c) 2022 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study successfully synthesized sulfur-doped FeWO4 catalyst, which exhibited better activity and stability in the oxygen reduction reaction and showed significant performance in zinc-air batteries.