Manipulating the Electronic Properties of an Fe Single Atom Catalyst via Secondary Coordination Sphere Engineering to Provide Enhanced Oxygen Electrocatalytic Activity in Zinc‐Air Batteries

Abstract Oxygen reduction and evolution reactions are two key processes in electrochemical energy conversion technologies. Synthesis of nonprecious metal, carbon‐based electrocatalysts with high oxygen bifunctional activity and stability is a crucial, yet challenging step to achieving electrochemical energy conversion. Here, an approach to address this issue: synthesis of an atomically dispersed Fe electrocatalyst (Fe 1 /NCP) over a porous, defect‐containing nitrogen‐doped carbon support, is described. Through incorporation of a phosphorus atom into the second coordination sphere of iron, the activity and durability boundaries of this catalyst are pushed to an unprecedented level in alkaline environments, such…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 22203044
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province

  Award: YQ2022B002
• NP
  Northeast Petroleum University

  Award: 2024KQ01
• NS
  National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory

  Award: BL11U
• BS
  Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility