Atomically Dispersed Co-Cu Dual Active Sites in Carbon Networks as Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalyst

Single-atom metal-based electrocatalysts offer extended advantages by maximizing the utilization of active sites but often suffers from complex synthesis processes and low-density metal loading. The present work showcases a strategic design of integrating highly dense cobalt-copper dual atoms dispersed on a nitrogen-rich porous carbon network (CoCu-NGC). Atomically disperse CoCu-NGC outperforms the ORR and OER activities of single metallic counterparts (Co-NGC or Cu-NGC) and the conventional noble metal based electrocatalysts (Pt/C and RuO2). Benefitting from the electronic modulation in dual SAC system, CoCu-NGC displayed outstanding bifunctional performance with low ΔE value of 0.69 V in freshwater and that of 0.78 V in seawater, highlighting it as a potential alternate to the costly state-of-art electrocatalyst.