Transition Metal (Fe, Zn, Co, and Ni) Single-Atom Catalysts Anchored on N,S-Codoped Hybrid Nanocarbons for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Atomically dispersed transition metal catalysts have served as promising candidates to substitute noble metals in energy conversion. A majority of carbon-supported transition metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been synthesized via the high-temperature sintering method, in which the complex heating and cooling processes are time- and energy-consuming. Herein, we have developed a simple and highly effective microwave-assisted heating method to prepare a series of isolated transition metal SACs anchored on a N,S-codoped nanocarbon matrix, which are denoted as M-NSC-MW, M = Fe, Zn, Co, and Ni. Among the various M-NSC-MW, Fe-NSC-MW possesses the highest ORR electrochemical activity in alkaline electrolytes. Its onset potential ( E onset ) is 0.955 V, and its half-wave potential ( E 1/2 ) can reach 0.852 V, both of which are the same as those of commercial Pt/C. Moreover, Fe-NSC-MW also exhibits much superior ORR catalytic efficiency than conventional pyrolysis samples. It is worth noting that Zn-NSC–MW is prepared for the first time, and it also shows a high ORR performance with an E onset of 0.945 V and an E 1/2 of 0.832 V. This work has revealed the general application of the microwave-assisted heating method to prepare well-dispersed transition metal SACs anchored on the N,S-codoped graphene/carbon hybrid matrix.