Fe4N particles embedded in nitrogen-doped electrospun carbon nanofibers as efficient ORR catalysts for zinc-air battery

IF 9.6 1区 材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
Cheng-Xiao Xu, Jin-Jie Zhang, Hong-Rui Dou, Yu-Zheng Li, Da-Ming Li, Ying-Jie Zhang, Bo Liu, Prabha Inbaraj, Pei-Pei Huo
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Abstract

The development of efficient, cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for advancing zinc-air batteries (ZABs). This study presents Fe4N nanoparticles embedded in N-doped carbon nanofibers (Fe4N@CNF-NH3) as a highly efficient ORR catalyst. The Fe4N@CNF-NH3 catalyst was synthesized via electrospinning, followed by high-temperature annealing in an NH3 atmosphere. This electrospinning technique ensured the uniform dispersion of Fe4N nanoparticles within the carbon nanofibers (CNFs), preventing agglomeration and enhancing the availability of active sites. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the formation of Fe4N nanoparticles with a lattice spacing of 0.213 nm, surrounded by graphitic carbon structures that significantly improved the material’s conductivity and stability. Electrochemical tests demonstrated that Fe4N@CNF-NH3 exhibited superior ORR activity, with a half-wave potential of 0.904 V, surpassing that of commercial Pt/C catalysts. This enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of Fe4N nanoparticles and the conductive carbon framework, which facilitated efficient charge and mass transfer during the ORR process. Density functional theory calculations further revealed that the introduction of CNFs positively shifted the d-band center of Fe atoms, optimizing oxygen intermediate adsorption and lowering energy barriers for ORR. The practical applicability of Fe4N@CNF-NH3 was validated through the assembly of both liquid-state and solid-state ZABs, which exhibited excellent cycling stability, high power density, and superior discharge voltage. This study offers a promising strategy for developing highly active, low-cost ORR catalysts and advances the potential for the commercialization of ZABs.

Graphical abstract

嵌入掺氮电纺丝碳纳米纤维中的 Fe4N 粒子作为锌-空气电池的高效 ORR 催化剂
开发高效、经济的氧还原反应(ORR)催化剂对锌空气电池(ZABs)的发展至关重要。本研究提出了嵌入氮掺杂碳纳米纤维(Fe4N@CNF-NH3)中的Fe4N纳米颗粒作为高效的ORR催化剂。通过静电纺丝法合成Fe4N@CNF-NH3催化剂,并在NH3气氛中进行高温退火。这种静电纺丝技术确保了Fe4N纳米颗粒在碳纳米纤维(CNFs)中的均匀分散,防止了团聚,提高了活性位点的可用性。结构和形态分析证实,形成了晶格间距为0.213 nm的Fe4N纳米颗粒,石墨碳结构包裹着Fe4N纳米颗粒,显著提高了材料的导电性和稳定性。电化学测试表明,Fe4N@CNF-NH3具有优异的ORR活性,其半波电位为0.904 V,超过了商用Pt/C催化剂。这种增强的性能归因于Fe4N纳米颗粒和导电碳框架的协同作用,促进了ORR过程中有效的电荷和质量传递。密度泛函理论进一步计算表明,CNFs的引入使Fe原子的d带中心正向移动,优化了氧中间体的吸附,降低了ORR的能垒。通过对液态和固态ZABs的组装,验证了Fe4N@CNF-NH3的实用性,该ZABs具有优异的循环稳定性、高功率密度和优越的放电电压。该研究为开发高活性、低成本的ORR催化剂提供了一个有希望的策略,并推进了ZABs的商业化潜力。图形抽象
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来源期刊
Rare Metals
Rare Metals 工程技术-材料科学:综合
CiteScore
12.10
自引率
12.50%
发文量
2919
审稿时长
2.7 months
期刊介绍: Rare Metals is a monthly peer-reviewed journal published by the Nonferrous Metals Society of China. It serves as a platform for engineers and scientists to communicate and disseminate original research articles in the field of rare metals. The journal focuses on a wide range of topics including metallurgy, processing, and determination of rare metals. Additionally, it showcases the application of rare metals in advanced materials such as superconductors, semiconductors, composites, and ceramics.
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