Redox‐Inert Fe 3+ Ions in Octahedral Sites of Co‐Fe Spinel Oxides with Enhanced Oxygen Catalytic Activity for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries

Abstract Bimetallic cobalt‐based spinel is sparking much interest, most notably for its excellent bifunctional performance. However, the effect of Fe 3+ doping in Co 3 O 4 spinel remains poorly understood, mainly because the surface state of a catalyst is difficult to characterize. Herein, a bifunctional oxygen electrode composed of spinel Co 2 FeO 4 /(Co 0.72 Fe 0.28 ) Td (Co 1.28 Fe 0.72 ) Oct O 4 nanoparticles grown on N‐doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) is designed, which exhibits superior performance to state‐of‐the‐art noble metal catalysts. Theoretical calculations and magnetic measurements reveal that the introduction of Fe 3+ ions into the Co 3 O 4 network causes delocalization of the Co 3d electrons and…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 21875048, 21576056, and 21576057
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province

  Award: 2017A030311016