富含吡啶氮-钴活性位点的三维多级大/介孔石墨烯作为高效可逆氧电催化剂用于可充电锌-空气电池（英文）

随着能源危机的日益严峻,能源的储存和转换越来越受到人们的重视.目前人们加以开发和利用的清洁能源主要包括太阳能、风能、氢能、地热能以及电化学能等.其中,燃料电池和金属-空气电池等作为电化学器件为电化学能的开发及可持续利用提供了条件.特别是金属-空气电池以电极电位较负的金属如镁、铝、锌、铁等作负极,以空气中的氧或纯氧作正极,具有比能量高、性能稳定、价格便宜的特点.氧还原反应(ORR)和析氧反应(OER)是可再生电化学能量转换和储存过程中的两个关键电化学过程.贵金属(Pt/C, Ir/C, IrO2等)虽然具有高催化活性,但价格昂贵、资源匮乏限制了其大规模的使用和发展.此外,它们的催化性能单一,难以同时实现多反应的高效催化.目前,大量研究工作集中在开发低成本、高效的ORR和OER催化剂,用来代替昂贵的铂类贵金属催化剂.在能源器件设计中,由于OER和ORR反应发生在同一个电极上,若能制备出具有ORR和OER双功能催化性能的电催化剂,将在很大程度上降低能源器件的设计难度.最近,我们的研究工作揭示了吡啶-氮-钴(pyri-N-Co)配位结构在协同作用中的重要性,协同作用大幅度提升了NiCo2O4/N掺杂石墨烯的本征催化活性.虽然金属粒子与掺氮石墨烯的结合有利于催化活性和稳定性的提高,但二维石墨烯片之间由于π-π键相互作用,容易聚集和堆叠.在实际应用中,石墨烯片之间的堆叠会导致可达表面的损失,从而使复合催化剂利用率降低,结构稳定性变差.因此,制备富含充分暴露且高效的ORR/OER活性中心的电催化剂仍然是一个巨大挑战.本文采用激光辐照法和水热法制备了具有层间大孔和片内介孔相互交联结构且负载铁酸钴纳米颗粒的三维多级孔石墨烯复合电催化剂(CoFe/3D-NLG),研究了其微观结构与ORR/OER电催化性能的关系.比表面积和X射线光电子能谱测试结果表明, CoFe/3D-NLG具有大的比表面积(322.6 m2g-1)和孔体积(0.715 cm3g-1),并且富含吡啶氮-钴活性中心.电化学测试表明,对于OER电催化, CoFe/3D-NLG复合催化剂在10 mAcm-2处的过电势为304 mV,优于商用Ru O2催化剂的322 mV;对于ORR电催化, CoFe/3D-NLG的半波电位达到872 mV,非常接近商用Pt/C催化剂(876 mV).此外,作为可充电锌空气电池的空气电极催化剂, CoFe/3D-NLG展现出了超高的开路电压(1.56 V)、高功率密度(213 mWcm-2)以及超低充放电电压(0.63 V),并且具有良好的充放电循环稳定性.CoFe/3D-NLG优异的ORR/OER电催化性能主要归因于以下两点:1)大量的吡啶氮-钴活性位点极大地加快了缓慢的氧电催化动力学,提高了每个活性位点的ORR/OER本征催化活性;2)丰富的层间大孔和面内介孔多级孔结构促进了整个石墨烯结构中的高效传质,因而在电催化过程中吡啶氮-钴活性位点得以充分暴露于电解液中.     

锚定在中空碳纳米笼上的Fe掺杂Co3O4用于高效电催化析氧(英文)

本研究采用[Fe(CN)₆]^3-阴离子交换2-甲基咪唑再于空气气氛下退火衍生的策略,制备了一种负载在氮掺杂中空纳米笼碳骨架上的Fe掺杂Co₃O₄电催化剂(Fe-Co₃O₄/NC),用于电催化OER。XRD和HRTEM表征证实了Fe掺人Co₃O₄的晶格中。XPS表征明确了Fe引入后Co价态升高,这是基于Co²⁺/Co³⁺和Fe³⁺的价电子构型诱导的电子由Co²⁺/Co³⁺向Fe³⁺的转移,这会促使Co位点在OER过程中衍生为CoOOH活性物种,作为真正的电催化活性中心,这也被OER稳定性测试后的HRTEM和XPS表征所证实。电化学性能测试显示,该电催化剂的OER过电位仅有275 mV且能够在100 mA/cm²的电流密度下稳定维持20 h,兼具优异的电催化活性和稳...     

碱性介质中Fe/N/C催化剂的氧气还原反应催化性能研究

以氧化石墨烯(GO)为碳载体, K₃Fe(CN)₆同时作为N源和Fe源, 经热处理后构建了新型Fe/N/C结构的氧气还原催化剂. 在热处理过程中, 氧化石墨烯上的官能团分解脱离形成活性中心, Fe元素和N元素的同时掺杂是通过氧化石墨烯与K₃Fe(CN)₆之间的相互作用而实现的. 通过傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)表征证明了这种非贵金属催化剂中N元素和Fe元素的成功掺杂, 在催化剂中N元素主要是以吡啶式氮、吡咯式氮和石墨式氮的形式存在, Fe(Ⅱ)和Fe(Ⅲ)则与其中的吡啶式氮配位形成Fe-N_x结构. 采用循环伏安法(CV)和旋转圆盘电极(RDE)技术, 研究其在碱性介质中对氧气还原反应(ORR)的电催化性能. 实验结果显示: Fe/N/C催化剂具有良好的ORR电催化活性, 在碱性溶液中的起始电位为-0.15 V, 同时有着良好的稳定性和抗甲醇性能.     

高效的尖晶石铁钴氧/氮掺杂有序介孔碳催化剂应用于可充电锌-空气电池

以电催化为核心的新能源储存和转换技术为缓解能源与环境问题提供了有效手段.可充电锌空气电池因其理论能量密度(1086 Wh·kg–1)高、成本效益显著、安全系数高、环境友好及放电平稳等优点被认为是一种具有前景的能源存储/转换装置,有望在新能源汽车、便携式电源等领域广泛应用.氧还原反应(ORR)和氧析出反应(OER)是锌-空气电池中的核心反应,目前,虽然贵金属催化剂对上述反应表现出一定的电催化活性,但由于其稀缺性、高昂价格和低稳定性因素严重阻碍了它们在锌-空气电池中的广泛应用.而非贵金属催化剂所面临的瓶颈在于ORR/OER反应动力学缓慢,导致其在实际应用过程中存在电压效率低和催化剂腐蚀等问题.因此,为了推进锌-空气电池商业化进程,研制低成本、高效、稳定的非贵金属催化剂迫在眉睫.本文通过一步法将双金属前驱体嵌入氮掺杂有序介孔碳(NOMC)中,合成了具有尖晶石型铁钴氧化物的高性能非贵金属电催化剂(FexCo/NOMC,x代表铁钴的摩尔比).实验结果表明,在x=0.5时,所制备的催化剂具有最佳的催化活性,与商业贵金属催化剂相比,该催化剂展现更优的电催化活性和稳定性.电化学测试结果表明,其ORR的半波电位为0.89 V(vs.RHE),当OER电流密度为10 mA·cm–1时,过电势仅为0.31 V,且电流-时间曲线测试结果表明催化剂表现出较好的稳定性.通过X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、穆斯堡尔谱(M?ssbauer)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和拉曼光谱(Raman)等表征手段对电催化剂的物化性质进行表征,结果表明该材料优异的氧电催化性能归因于双金属氧化物的电子调控作用、NOMC的介孔结构、高导电性和高比表面积,其ORR与OER的催化活性位点分别是氮活化的碳(N-C)和双金属氧化物.以优化的Fe0.5Co/NOMC为正极组装可充电锌-空气电池,该电池在空气环境下展现出优良的充放电性能,其在电流密度为100 mA·cm–2条件下操作时能量密度达到820 Wh·kg–1,在1.0 V时功率密度达到153 mW·cm–2,它还表现出较好的稳定性,经过144 h的循环实验,活性没有明显下降.本文不仅制备了一种有前景的尖晶石型氧化物碳基氧电催化材料,还为高效氧电催化剂的合理开发与构筑提供了一条新的思路.     

氧空位和磷掺杂协同增强铁钴基材料电解水催化性能

为了研发高效、稳定的电解水催化剂,我们以氧空位和磷掺杂为基础,通过原位浸泡生长和两步热处理的方法,在泡沫铁上合成具有氧空位和磷掺杂的纳米花结构作为析氢反应(HER)和析氧反应(OER)双功能电催化剂。CoFe₂O₄已被报道为一种很有前途的OER和氧还原反应(ORR)电催化剂,然而CoFe₂O₄在HER中表现出电导率差、电催化反应慢的特性。CoFe₂O₄中氧空位(Ov)的形成可以有效调控催化剂表面的电子结构,有助于产生更多的缺陷和空位,从而提高OER的活性。随后,引入磷原子填充在空位中,制备的P-Ov-CoFe₂O₄/IF在碱性电催化测试中展现出优异的HER和OER性能,在10 mA·cm^-2电流密度下HER和OER过电位仅为54和191 mV,Tafel斜率分别为57和54 mV·dec^-1,并具有良好的循环稳定性。     

界面增强的CeO2/FeNi MOF高效析氧催化剂

在众多非贵金属基材料中，金属有机骨架（MOFs）因其高比表面积和丰富的金属活性中心而成为最有前景的氧气析出反应（OER）催化剂之一.但MOFs的本征催化活性、导电性和稳定性较差，从而影响其在OER电催化中的应用.本工作通过电沉积法在泡沫镍支撑的FeNi MOF纳米片表面引入5 nm的CeO₂纳米团簇来提高MOFs的催化活性.CeO₂纳米团簇与FeNi MOF纳米片之间的固-固界面相互作用以及CeO₂纳米团簇的掺杂有效调控了MOF表面金属位点的电子结构，提高了金属位点的本征电催化活性；同时，CeO₂团簇良好的导电性促进了FeNi MOF表面的电荷迁移，从而使CeO₂/FeNi MOF的OER活性优于FeNi MOF.在1 mol·L^-1 KOH溶液中CeO₂/FeNi MOF达到50 mA·cm^-2和100 mA·cm^-2的电流密度所需要的过电位分别只有220 mV和233 mV，同时表现出快速的反应动力学和优异的稳定性.     

MnO/氮掺杂石墨烯复合正极材料在锂空气电池中的高效催化性能研究

本文采用水热法制备了MnO/氮掺杂石墨烯复合材料.作为非水锂空气电池的正极催化剂,该复合材料表现出了优异的电化学性能以及循环稳定性.在充放电电流密度为0.05 mA cm~(-2)时,其能量效率高达84.6%,远高于目前文献所报道的非贵金属催化剂的能量效率,也超过了基于贵金属的催化剂.其氧还原反应(ORR)和氧析出反应(OER)的过电势分别仅为0.11和0.41 V.扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)结果表明,所制备的MnO纳米颗粒能够均匀地分散在氮掺杂石墨烯的表面.密度泛函理论(DFT)计算揭示,MnO(100)面是主要的催化活性面,其理论ORR和OER的过电势分别仅为0.21与0.24 V,充放电电势差为0.45V,与实验结果0.52 V相当.     

B-Co3O4/C复合纳米材料的制备及其电催化析氧性能

本文以雪莲果为碳源,采用热解法制备碳材料(C),以硝酸钴、四硼酸钠和碳材料为原料,通过热解法合成硼掺杂四氧化三钴/碳(B-Co₃O₄/C)复合纳米材料。运用XRD、FTIR、SEM、XPS等手段对其结构、形貌和组成进行表征。利用线性扫描(LSV)和Tafel曲线等电化学测试方法研究了B-Co₃O₄/C复合纳米材料的电催化析氧反应(OER)性能。结果表明,该材料具有较好的电催化OER活性。在1.0mol/L的KOH电解液和10mA·cm^-2的电流密度下,B-Co₃O₄/C复合纳米材料的过电位为293mV,Tafel斜率为45.0mV·dec^-1。在10mA·cm^-2电流密度下连续测试10h, B-Co₃O₄/C的电位变化不大,通过法拉第效率测试该催化剂的产氧效率为94%,说明硼原子的掺入改变了B-Co₃O₄...     

一锅法制备Fe2O3@Fe-N-C氧还原电催化剂及其锌-空气电池的性能研究

在金属空气电池和燃料电池阴极上的氧还原反应(ORR)对相关电化学能量转换装置的整体性能有重要影响,金属-氮-碳催化剂有望替代传统的商业Pt-C成为新一代ORR电催化剂。本文通过简便的一步热解工艺合成了具有Fe-N_x活性位点和Fe₂O₃纳米颗粒共存的电催化剂,Fe₂O₃@Fe-N-C-1000催化剂在0.1 mol·L^-1 KOH溶液中表现出良好的ORR活性,半波电位为0.84 V,应用在锌-空气电池中时也具有可以和商业Pt-C媲美的性能,能量密度为88.3 mW·cm^-2,同时和Pt-C相比具有更好电化学稳定性,表现出优良的ORR应用潜力。     

表面Co2CrO4电化学转化为CoOOH/CrOOH及其增强电催化析氧中的性能

以清洁能源发电为动力的水分解技术是一种很有应用前景的制氢方法,可以缓解日益增长的能源消耗和公众高度关注的环境问题.水分解的氧化过程,即析氧反应(OER),是一个四电子-质子耦合反应,其动力学缓慢,是实现高效电解水的技术难题.以RuO₂和IrO₂为代表的贵金属氧化物表现出极高的催化活性,但受限于储量低及价格昂贵,很难广泛应用.因此,迫切需要开发出具有高效和持久活性的非贵金属电催化剂以解决动力学迟缓问题.钴元素储量丰富、价格低廉,同时具有较高的催化活性,有望替代贵金属催化剂而在工业化电解水中大规模应用.尖晶石型氧化物(A₂BO₄)具有氧缺陷含量高,氧化态灵活,能形成氧化-还原对的特点,有利于提高催化剂的电化学活性.因此,Cr和Co合理协同制备A₂BO₄型催化剂可获得更好的催化剂性能.研究结果(Chem.Commun.,2018,54,4987?4990)表明,OER性能主要与催化剂表面OH?的吸收效率有关,过渡金属羟基氧化物(MOOH)是OER反应的主要活性物质.对A2BO4型催化剂进行阳极化处理,可以使其表面发生原子级相变,生成MOOH产物.因此,对电催化剂进行结构演化是提高其催化活性的一个重要策略.本文采用电化学阳极化处理,即在碱性环境下对Co₂CrO₄表面进行原位演化生成CoOOH/CrOOH,从而得到CoOOH/CrOOH-Co₂CrO₄.通过X-射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、X-射线光电子能谱和氮气吸附-脱附等方法对催化剂的结构和形貌进行表征.结果表明,阳极化处理后,光滑的Co₂CrO₄表面生成了CoOOH/CrOOH褶皱,CoOOH/CrOOH和Co₂CrO₄的协同效应可以暴露出更多活性位点并加快电子的传输,明显提升析氧反应性能.在1.0 M NaOH中进行CoOOH/CrOOH-Co₂CrO₄电催化性能测试,循环伏安曲线结果表明,电流密度达到20 mA cm^?2时,仅需过电位244 mV,转化频率是0.536 s^?1,说明催化剂催化析氧反应性能优异.多步计时电流曲线以及长时间电流曲线表明催化剂稳定性较高.     

The sum is more than its parts: stability of MnFe oxide nanoparticles supported on oxygen-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes at alternating oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction conditions

Successful design of reversible oxygen electrocatalysts does not only require to consider their activity towards the oxygen reduction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reactions (OER), but also their electrochemical stability at alternating ORR and OER operating conditions, which is important for potential applications in reversible electrolyzers/fuel cells or metal/air batteries. We show that the combination of catalyst materials containing stable ORR active sites with those containing stable OER active sites may result in a stable ORR/OER catalyst if each of the active components can satisfy the current demand of their respective reaction. We compare the ORR/OER performances of oxides of Mn (stable ORR active sites), Fe (stable OER active sites), and bimetallic Mn_0.5Fe_0.5 (reversible ORR/OER catalyst) supported on oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Despite the instability of Mn and Fe oxide for the OER and the ORR, respectively, Mn_0.5Fe_0.5 exhibits high stability for both reactions.

     

3D Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Encapsulated Metallic Nickel–Iron Alloy Nanoparticles for Efficient Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysis

It is extremely desirable to explore high-efficient, affordable and robust oxygen electrocatalysts toward rechargeable Zn–air batteries (ZABs). A 3D porous nitrogen-doped graphene encapsulated metallic Ni₃Fe alloy nanoparticles aerogel (Ni₃Fe-GA₁) was constructed through a facile hydrothermal assembly and calcination process. Benefiting from 3D porous configuration with great accessibility, high electrical conductivity, abundant active sites, optimal nitrogen content and strong electronic interactions at the Ni₃Fe/N-doped graphene heterointerface, the obtained aerogel showed outstanding catalytic performance toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Specifically, it exhibited an overpotential of 239 mV to attain 10 mA cm⁻² for OER, simultaneously providing a positive onset potential of 0.93 V within a half-wave potential of 0.8 V for ORR. Accordingly, when employed in the aqueous ZABs, Ni₃Fe-GA₁ achieved higher power density and superior reversibility than Pt/C−IrO₂ catalyst, making it a potential candidate for rechargeable ZABs.     

Recent advances of layered double hydroxides–based bifunctional electrocatalysts for ORR and OER

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have attracted increasing attention for the sake of clean, renewable, and efficient energy technologies in recent years. The design of ORR/OER bifunctional electrocatalysts is a challenging task in the promotion of highly efficient rechargeable metal-air batteries as well as regenerative fuel cells. Owing to the wide adaptability of different types and ratios of metals in the interlayer space as well as the adjustable interlayer distance, composite materials with layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and their derivatives have recently been registered as electrode materials and catalysts supports for various electrochemical reactions. This study examines the recent development of bifunctional electrocatalysts based on LDHs for ORR/OER to expand the application of LDHs in the field of energy storage and conversion. Various bifunctional electrocatalysts associated with LDHs are discussed in detail to improve their performance. Finally, existing problems and future prospects for improving the performance of LDHs bifunctional electrocatalysts are proposed.     

One-step In-situ Synthesis of Vacancy-rich CoFe2O4@Defective Graphene Hybrids as Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries

Developing efficient catalysts toward both oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction(OER) is the core task for rechargeable metal-air batteries. Although integration of two active components should be an effective method to produce the bifunctional catalysts in principle, traditional techniques still can not attain fine tunable surface structure during material-hybridization process. Herein, we present a facile short-time in-situ argon(Ar) plasma strategy to fabricate a high-performance bifunctional hybrid catalyst of vacancy-rich CoFe₂O₄ synergized with defective graphene(r-CoFe₂O₄@DG). Reflected by the low voltage gap of 0.79 V in two half-reaction measurements, the striking capability to catalyze ORR/OER endows it excellent and durable performance in rechargeable Zn-air batteries, with a maximum power density of 155.2 mW/cm² and robust stability(up to 60 h). Further experimental and theoretical studies validate its remarkable bifunctional energetics root from plasma-induced surface vacancy defects and interfacial charge polarization between DG and CoFe₂O₄. This work offers more opportunities for reliable clean energy systems by rational interfacial and defect engineering on catalyst design.     

Molecular Engineering of a 3D Self‐Supported Electrode for Oxygen Electrocatalysis in Neutral Media

Electrodes for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are required in energy conversion and storage technologies. An assembly strategy involves covalently grafting Co corrole 1 onto Fe₃O₄ nanoarrays grown on Ti mesh. The resulted electrode shows significantly improved activity and durability for OER and ORR in neutral media as compared to Fe₃O₄ alone and with directly adsorbed 1 . It also displays higher atom efficiency (at least two magnitudes larger turnover frequency) than reported electrodes. Using this electrode in a neutral Zn‐air battery, a small charge–discharge voltage gap of 1.19 V, large peak power density of 90.4 mW cm^?2, and high rechargeable stability for >100 h are achieved, opening a promising avenue of molecular electrocatalysis in a metal–air battery. This work shows a molecule‐engineered electrode for electrocatalysis and demonstrates their potential applications in energy conversion and storage.     

Pomegranate‐Inspired Design of Highly Active and Durable Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Metal–Air Batteries

Rational design of highly active and durable electrocatalysts for oxygen reactions is critical for rechargeable metal–air batteries. Herein, we report the design and development of composite electrocatalysts based on transition metal oxide nanocrystals embedded in a nitrogen‐doped, partially graphitized carbon framework. Benefiting from the unique pomegranate‐like architecture, the composite catalysts possess abundant active sites, strong synergetic coupling, enhanced electron transfer, and high efficiencies in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The Co₃O₄‐based composite electrocatalyst exhibited a high half‐wave potential of 0.842 V for ORR, and a low overpotential of only 450 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm^?2 for OER. A single‐cell zinc–air battery was also fabricated with superior durability, holding great promise in the practical implementation of rechargeable metal–air batteries.     

基于内嵌钴/氮掺杂多孔碳三维石墨烯笼的抗团聚高效氧还原电催化剂

氧还原反应是决定燃料电池、金属-空气电池等多种新型清洁能源存储与转化技术之性能与应用的关键反应. 铂及其合金是目前催化活性最好的氧还原反应催化剂,但其高昂的成本限制了规模化应用. 在小尺寸效应作用下,微纳米结构催化剂颗粒在电极制备与电化学反应过程中的团聚限制了催化剂本征催化活性的充分发挥. 本文基于喷雾热解技术,发展了一种基于内嵌钴/氮掺杂多孔碳三维石墨烯笼的高活性、抗团聚非贵金属氧还原反应催化剂. 此结构中,金属有机骨架化合物ZIF-67衍生的钴/氮掺杂多孔碳纳米结构是催化氧还原反应的活性中心,包覆其外的三维石墨烯笼不仅可在钴/氮掺杂碳纳米结构之间构建连续的三维载流子传导网络,且可高效抑制其在催化剂制备与电化学反应过程中的团聚与活性损失. 在碱性电解液中,此类非贵金属催化剂表现出可与铂基催化剂媲美的氧还原反应活性和优异的稳定性.     

Atomically Dispersed Iron–Nitrogen Species as Electrocatalysts for Bifunctional Oxygen Evolution and Reduction Reactions

Rational design of non‐noble materials as highly efficient, economical, and durable bifunctional catalysts for oxygen evolution and reduction reactions (OER/ORR) is currently a critical obstacle for rechargeable metal‐air batteries. A new route involving S was developed to achieve atomic dispersion of Fe‐N_x species on N and S co‐decorated hierarchical carbon layers, resulting in single‐atom bifunctional OER/ORR catalysts for the first time. The abundant atomically dispersed Fe‐N_x species are highly catalytically active, the hierarchical structure offers more opportunities for active sites, and the electrical conductivity is greatly improved. The obtained electrocatalyst exhibits higher limiting current density and a more positive half‐wave potential for ORR, as well as a lower overpotential for OER under alkaline conditions. Moreover, a rechargeable Zn–air battery device comprising this hybrid catalyst shows superior performance compared to Pt/C catalyst. This work will open a new avenue to design advanced bifunctional catalysts for reversible energy storage and conversion devices.     

Self-Assembly of Surface-Functionalized Ag1.8Mn8O16 Nanorods with Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets as an Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries

Bifunctional electrocatalysts play a key role in the performance of rechargeable metal-air batteries. Herein, we report a hybrid catalyst, Ag_1.8Mn₈O₁₆/rGO, self-assembled by Ag_1.8Mn₈O₁₆ nanorods and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets through electrostatic attraction. The hybrid catalyst exhibits a better oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity than commercial Pt/C in alkaline medium. When employed as an air-cathode catalyst in Zn-air cells, the hybrids enabled higher and more stable output voltage and better durability of the cells, benefitting from the improved electrode conductivity, larger surface area, and synergetic coupling as a result of its high structural integrity.     

The influence of the type of N dopping on the performance of bifunctional N-doped ordered mesoporous carbon electrocatalysts in oxygen reduction and evolution reaction

To develop more ideal bifunctional heteroatom-doped carbon electrocatalysts toward the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction(OER) for regenerative fuel cells and rechargeable metal–air batteries, herein, tobacco-derived N-containing ordered mesoporous carbon(N-OMC) electrocatalysts with different N species distributions are designed. Results indicate that the as-prepared N-OMC with more pyrrolic and pyridinic Ns exhibits much higher activities for the ORR and OER than N-OMC with more graphitic N in both acidic and alkaline media, suggesting that the increase of pyrrolic and pyridinic Ns favors the improvement of ORR and OER activities of the N-containing carbon catalysts, and showing a great potential for the designing of more effective, lower-cost ORR and OER bifunctional electrocatalysts for future regenerative fuel cells and rechargeable metal–air batteries.