journal article·2025-04Open access

Engineering CoN4 and FeN4 Dual Sites with Adjacent Nanoclusters on Flexible Porous Carbon Fibers for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction and Evolution

Zhe Lu, Zhe Wang, Zhenbei Yang, Xiaoyan Jin, Li Tong, RuoJie Xu, Kexin Kong, Yifan Zhang, Yong Wang, Yipu Liu, Linxing Meng, Zhijuan Pan, Seong‐Ju Hwang, Liang Li

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 35· Issue 16

Abstract

Abstract Dual‐atom catalysts (DACs) possess tunable electronic structures and efficient atom utilization, making them highly promising for catalyzing the oxygen reduction reaction/oxygen evolution reaction (ORR/OER). However, achieving high catalytic activity and stability for both ORR and OER in DACs remains a challenge. Herein, a flexible membrane of porous carbon fiber anchored with atomically scattered CoN4/FeN4 dual sites and adjacent Co2Fe2/Fe5 nanoclusters (Co, Fe‐DACs/NCs@PCF) is synthesized. The local geometry and electronic structure of the CoN4/FeN4 sites, which act as reaction centers for ORR/OER, are finely regulated by the neighboring Co2Fe2/Fe5 nanoclusters. This unique structure imparts Co, Fe‐DACs/NCs@PCF with exceptional activity and durability toward ORR/OER, outperforming the performance of single‐atom catalysts containing only CoN4 or FeN4 sites, as well as commercial Pt/C and RuO2 catalysts. Zinc–air battery employing a Co, Fe‐DACs/NCs@PCF cathode exhibits outstanding stability, maintaining cyclability for over 1500 h, outperforming a Pt/C + RuO2 air cathode. Theoretical calculations highlight distinct synergies between Fe5 (Co2Fe2) clusters and FeN4 (CoN4) sites, which optimize the coupling strength of Fe(Co)─OH at the potential‐determining steps and thus improve ORR (OER) catalytic kinetics. This study lays a theoretical and practical foundation for rational design of heterostructure catalysts featuring coexisting DACs and nanoclusters within porous carbon fibers.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion · Fuel Cells and Related Materials · Electrochemical sensors and biosensors

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

College of Textile and Clothing Engineering National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China

Department of Applied Chemistry University of Seoul Seoul 02504 Republic of Korea

State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea School of Materials Science and Engineering Hainan University Haikou 570228 P. R. China

School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanyang Technological University 50 Nanyang Avenue Singapore 639798 Singapore

School of Physical Science and Technology Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Thin Films Center for Energy Conversion Materials & Physics (CECMP) Soochow University Suzhou 215006 China

Department of Materials Science and Engineering Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea

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