Fundamental understanding of nitrogen in biomass electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction and zinc-air batteries

• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108913
• Publication Date: 2024-01-16T07:30:20Z
• Authors: Yue Cao; Yegeng Sun; Haowei Wang; Xue Li; Qing Wang; Weimeng Si; Wentao Lan; Fagang Wang; Ning Han
• Keywords: Energy systems; Science; Q; Applied sciences; 01 natural sciences; Article; 0104 chemical sciences

Exploring high-efficiency catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) is essential for the development of large-scale applications of fuel cell and metal-air batteries technology. The as-prepared Fe-NC-800 via polymerization-pyrolysis strategy exhibited superior ORR activity with onset potential of 1.030 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and half-wave potential of 0.908 V vs. RHE, which is higher than that of the Pt/C catalyst and most of other Fe-based catalysts. The different d-band center values can be attributed to the influence of different N-doped carbon, leading to the adjustment in the ORR activity. In addition, Fe-NC-800-based Zn-air battery showed better electrochemical performance with a high discharge specific capacity of 806 mA h g-1 and a high-power density of 220 mW cm-2 than that of the Pt/C-based battery. Therefore, the biomass Fe-NC-800 catalyst may become a promising substitute for Pt/C catalysts in energy storage and conversion devices.