Fe/Ni-N-CNFs electrochemical catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction/oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media

The novel of iron, nickel and nitrogen doped carbon nanofibers (Fe/Ni-N-CNFs) as bifunctional electrocatalysts are prepared by electrospinning technique. In alkaline media, the Fe/Ni-N-CNFs catalysts (especially for Fe1Ni1-N-CNFs) exhibit remarkable electrocatalytic performances of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)/oxygen evolution reaction (OER). For ORR catalytic activity, Fe1Ni1-N-CNFs catalyst offers a higher onset potential of 0.903 V, a similar four-electron reaction pathway, and excellent stability. For OER catalytic activity, Fel Nil-N-CNFs catalyst possesses a lower onset potential of 1.528 V and a smaller charge transfer resistance of 48.14 Omega. The unparalleled catalytic activity of ORR and OER for the Fe1Ni1-N-CNFs is attributed to the 3D porous cross-linked microstructures of carbon nanofibers with Fe/Ni alloy, N dopant, and abundant M-N-x and NiOOH as catalytic active sites. Thus, Fe1Ni1-N-CNFs catalyst can be acted as one of the efficient and inexpensive catalysts of metal-air batteries. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.