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A Highly Efficient Fe−N−C Electrocatalyst with Atomically Dispersed FeN 4 Sites for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Author(s) -
Jin Xinxin,
Xie Yan,
Fu Junhong,
Zhao Chaoyue,
Xu Yinghao,
Lv Yang,
Zhang Bingsen,
Sun Keju,
Si Rui,
Huang Jiahui
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.202100132
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , catalysis , oxygen reduction reaction , carbon fibers , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , materials science , chemical engineering , electrode , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , composite number , engineering
Atomically dispersed Fe−N−C electrocatalysts have displayed excellent catalytic performances towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), while the identification of the genuine active sites remains a challenge. Herein, we report a Fe−N−C electrocatalyst of FeSA/HNPC featuring single‐atomic FeN 4 sites on hierarchically N‐doped porous carbon (HNPC), which shows a very competitive ORR activity in alkaline solution even at a low electrocatalyst loading of 0.2 mg cm −2 on the working electrode. A comparison of energy barriers in ORR reveals that the single‐atomic FeN 4 active sites in FeSA/HNPC existing in the form of pyrrole‐N 4 −Fe is more favorable than that of pyridine‐N 4 −Fe for the enhanced ORR activity. Understanding the nature of FeN 4 active sites will greatly benefit the design of Fe−N−C electrocatalysts with highly effective ORR performances.