Cu nanoclusters activating ultrafine Fe3N nanoparticles via the Mott-Schottky effect for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

Qing Dong; Gangjian Li; Fangfang Liu; Jianwei Ren; Hui Wang; Rongfang Wang

doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122415

Cu nanoclusters activating ultrafine Fe₃N nanoparticles via the Mott-Schottky effect for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

Qing Dong, Gangjian Li, Fangfang Liu, Jianwei Ren, Hui Wang, Rongfang Wang

Mechanical Engineering Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The rational design and synthesis of cost-effective bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is crucial for the large-scale commercial applications of rechargeable zinc-air batteries. In this work, the Cu_NCs/Fe₃N-NPCF catalyst was constructed by anchoring the metallic Cu/Fe₃N ensembles with different sizes onto N-doped porous carbon nanosheets. The Mott-Schottky heterostructure formed by Fe₃N nanoparticles and its surrounding Cu clusters enabled spontaneous electron transfer, which speeded up the electron supply from active sites to various oxygen intermediates. The electrophilic region on Cu side and the nucleophilic region on Fe₃N side improved the adsorption of O₂ and OH^-, respectively. The Cu_NCs/Fe₃N-NPCF exhibited onset potential of 0.98 V and low Tafel slope of 59.30 mV dec⁻¹ in ORR, and overpotential of 282 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² current density in OER. The Cu_NCs/Fe₃N-NPCF-based zinc-air battery displayed the excellent catalytic activity and durability. These findings provided the guides in developing the efficient and stable Mott-Schottky bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.

Original language	English
Article number	122415
Journal	Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume	326
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122415
Publication status	Published - 5 Jun 2023

Keywords

Cluster-nanoparticle ensemble
Mott-Schottky nanoreactors
N-doped porous carbon nanosheet frameworks
Oxygen reduction reaction
Rechargeable zinc-air batteries

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Catalysis
General Environmental Science
Process Chemistry and Technology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122415

Cite this

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title = "Cu nanoclusters activating ultrafine Fe3N nanoparticles via the Mott-Schottky effect for rechargeable zinc-air batteries",

abstract = "The rational design and synthesis of cost-effective bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is crucial for the large-scale commercial applications of rechargeable zinc-air batteries. In this work, the CuNCs/Fe3N-NPCF catalyst was constructed by anchoring the metallic Cu/Fe3N ensembles with different sizes onto N-doped porous carbon nanosheets. The Mott-Schottky heterostructure formed by Fe3N nanoparticles and its surrounding Cu clusters enabled spontaneous electron transfer, which speeded up the electron supply from active sites to various oxygen intermediates. The electrophilic region on Cu side and the nucleophilic region on Fe3N side improved the adsorption of O2 and OH-, respectively. The CuNCs/Fe3N-NPCF exhibited onset potential of 0.98 V and low Tafel slope of 59.30 mV dec−1 in ORR, and overpotential of 282 mV at 10 mA cm−2 current density in OER. The CuNCs/Fe3N-NPCF-based zinc-air battery displayed the excellent catalytic activity and durability. These findings provided the guides in developing the efficient and stable Mott-Schottky bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.",

keywords = "Cluster-nanoparticle ensemble, Mott-Schottky nanoreactors, N-doped porous carbon nanosheet frameworks, Oxygen reduction reaction, Rechargeable zinc-air batteries",

author = "Qing Dong and Gangjian Li and Fangfang Liu and Jianwei Ren and Hui Wang and Rongfang Wang",

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year = "2023",

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T1 - Cu nanoclusters activating ultrafine Fe3N nanoparticles via the Mott-Schottky effect for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

AU - Dong, Qing

AU - Li, Gangjian

AU - Liu, Fangfang

AU - Ren, Jianwei

AU - Wang, Hui

AU - Wang, Rongfang

PY - 2023/6/5

Y1 - 2023/6/5

N2 - The rational design and synthesis of cost-effective bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is crucial for the large-scale commercial applications of rechargeable zinc-air batteries. In this work, the CuNCs/Fe3N-NPCF catalyst was constructed by anchoring the metallic Cu/Fe3N ensembles with different sizes onto N-doped porous carbon nanosheets. The Mott-Schottky heterostructure formed by Fe3N nanoparticles and its surrounding Cu clusters enabled spontaneous electron transfer, which speeded up the electron supply from active sites to various oxygen intermediates. The electrophilic region on Cu side and the nucleophilic region on Fe3N side improved the adsorption of O2 and OH-, respectively. The CuNCs/Fe3N-NPCF exhibited onset potential of 0.98 V and low Tafel slope of 59.30 mV dec−1 in ORR, and overpotential of 282 mV at 10 mA cm−2 current density in OER. The CuNCs/Fe3N-NPCF-based zinc-air battery displayed the excellent catalytic activity and durability. These findings provided the guides in developing the efficient and stable Mott-Schottky bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.

AB - The rational design and synthesis of cost-effective bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is crucial for the large-scale commercial applications of rechargeable zinc-air batteries. In this work, the CuNCs/Fe3N-NPCF catalyst was constructed by anchoring the metallic Cu/Fe3N ensembles with different sizes onto N-doped porous carbon nanosheets. The Mott-Schottky heterostructure formed by Fe3N nanoparticles and its surrounding Cu clusters enabled spontaneous electron transfer, which speeded up the electron supply from active sites to various oxygen intermediates. The electrophilic region on Cu side and the nucleophilic region on Fe3N side improved the adsorption of O2 and OH-, respectively. The CuNCs/Fe3N-NPCF exhibited onset potential of 0.98 V and low Tafel slope of 59.30 mV dec−1 in ORR, and overpotential of 282 mV at 10 mA cm−2 current density in OER. The CuNCs/Fe3N-NPCF-based zinc-air battery displayed the excellent catalytic activity and durability. These findings provided the guides in developing the efficient and stable Mott-Schottky bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.

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