Open AccessLocalizing Tungsten Single Atoms around Tungsten Nitride Nanoparticles for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis in Metal–Air Batteries
Author(s) -
Ma Yuanyuan,
Yu Yong,
Wang Junhui,
Lipton Jason,
Tan Hui Ning,
Zheng Lirong,
Yang Tong,
Liu Zhaolin,
Loh Xian Jun,
Pennycook Stephen J.,
Shen Lei,
Kou Zongkui,
Taylor André D.,
Wang John
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202105192
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , tungsten , catalysis , nanoparticle , materials science , nitride , oxygen reduction reaction , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , density functional theory , oxygen evolution , electrode , chemistry , electrochemistry , computational chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , engineering
Combining isolated atomic active sites with those in nanoparticles for synergizing complex multistep catalysis is being actively pursued in the design of new electrocatalyst systems. However, these novel systems have been rarely studied due to the challenges with synthesis and analysis. Herein, a synergistically catalytic performance is demonstrated with a 0.89 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode) onset potential in the four‐step oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) by localizing tungsten single atoms around tungsten nitride nanoparticles confined into nitrogen‐doped carbon (W SAs/WNNC). Through density functional theory calculations, it is shown that each of the active centers in the synergistic entity feature a specific potential‐determining step in their respective reaction pathway that can be merged to optimize the intermediate steps involving scaling relations on individual active centers. Impressively, the W SAs/WNNC as the air cathode in all‐solid‐state Zn‐air and Al‐air batteries demonstrate competitive durability and reversibility, despite the acknowledged low activity of W‐based catalyst toward the ORR.