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Research Article

Charge-asymmetry Fe1Cu single-atom alloy catalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Xudong Niu1, Jian Wei2( ), Dongyao Xu1( ), Jiajing Pei3, Rui Sui4( )
School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China
Institute of Water Ecology and Environment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100083, China
Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Engineering Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Graphical Abstract

We developed a novel incorporation of charge-asymmetry atomically dispersed Fe single atom with Cu nanoparticles on nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheet (denoted as Fe1Cu SAA/NC). The catalyst showed excellent catalytic performance in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process.

Abstract

The development of high-efficient and low-cost oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts is crucial for the practical applications of metal-air batteries. One promising way is to develop Fe single-atom catalysts. However, the single active center and inherent electronic structure of Fe single-atom catalysts lead to the undesirable adsorption of multiple ORR intermediates. Herein, a charge-asymmetry single-atom alloy (SAA) catalyst with Fe–Cu dual sites supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheet (Fe1Cu SAA/NC) was constructed. Various characterizations manifest the existence of electron interaction between Fe and Cu in Fe1Cu SAA/NC, which facilitates the adsorption of ORR intermediate for fast kinetics. Consequently, the charge-asymmetry Fe1Cu SAA/NC exhibits much faster ORR kinetics with a half-wave potential of 0.917 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), outperforming its counterparts in the references. Furthermore, Fe1Cu SAA/NC still maintains a high half-wave potential with only a drop of 5 mV after 5000 cycles, indicating excellent stability. This work provides a new strategy to design highly active and non-noble metal ORR electrocatalysts, which hold great potential for various catalytic applications.

Keywords

oxygen reduction reactionelectrocatalysischarge-asymmetryFe1Cu single-atom alloy (SAA)

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Nano Research
Volume 17 Issue 6,
June 2024
Pages 4702-4710
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-023-6317-3
Cite this article:
Niu X, Wei J, Xu D, et al. Charge-asymmetry Fe1Cu single-atom alloy catalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction. Nano Research, 2024, 17(6): 4702-4710. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-6317-3
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Received: 20 September 2023
Revised: 29 October 2023
Accepted: 01 November 2023
Published: 23 February 2024
© Tsinghua University Press 2024
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