Single atomic cobalt electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Rao Peng; Wu Daoxiong; Wang Tian-Jiao; Li Jing; Deng Peilin; Chen Qi; Shen Yijun; Chen Yu; Tian Xinlong

doi:10.1016/j.esci.2022.05.004

Volume 2 Issue 4

Jul. 2022

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Rao Peng, Wu Daoxiong, Wang Tian-Jiao, Li Jing, Deng Peilin, Chen Qi, Shen Yijun, Chen Yu, Tian Xinlong. Single atomic cobalt electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction[J]. eScience, 2022, 2(4): 399-404. doi: 10.1016/j.esci.2022.05.004

Citation:

Rao Peng, Wu Daoxiong, Wang Tian-Jiao, Li Jing, Deng Peilin, Chen Qi, Shen Yijun, Chen Yu, Tian Xinlong. Single atomic cobalt electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction[J]. eScience, 2022, 2(4): 399-404. doi: 10.1016/j.esci.2022.05.004

Citation:

Rao Peng, Wu Daoxiong, Wang Tian-Jiao, Li Jing, Deng Peilin, Chen Qi, Shen Yijun, Chen Yu, Tian Xinlong. Single atomic cobalt electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction[J]. eScience, 2022, 2(4): 399-404. doi: 10.1016/j.esci.2022.05.004

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Single atomic cobalt electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

doi: 10.1016/j.esci.2022.05.004

a.
State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Fine Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
b.
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China

More Information

Corresponding author: E-mail address: ndchenyu@gmail.com (Y. Chen); tianxl@hainanu.edu.cn (X. Tian)
Received Date: 2022-01-18
Revised Date: 2022-04-20
Accepted Date: 2022-05-13

Available Online: 2022-05-18

Abstract

Abstract

Robust oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts are essential for energy storage and conversion devices, but their development remains challenging. Herein, we design a single-atom catalyst featuring isolated Co anchored on nitrogen-doped carbon (Co-SAC/NC) via a highly efficient "plasma-bombing" strategy. With a high loading (up to 2.5 wt%), the well-dispersed single Co atoms in Co-SAC/NC give it robust ORR performance in an alkaline medium. It also demonstrates excellent battery performance when implemented as the air-cathode catalyst in a zinc-air battery (ZAB). Theoretical calculations reveal that the Co–N₄ moiety experiences an "extraction/recovery" structural evolution during the ORR process, and the reaction's rate-determining step is the formation of OOH^* (reaction intermediate). This work provides a new strategy for designing robust ORR catalysts for high-performance ZABs and other energy-conversion devices.
- Plasma-bombing,
- Zinc-air batteries,
- Durability,
- Theoretical calculations,
- Single-atom catalysts

● A novel and highly efficient "plasma-bombing" strategy is proposed.
● DFT calculations reveal a dynamic "extraction/recovery" mechanism.
● The catalyst delivers remarkable oxygen reduction reaction activity and stability.
● An isolated cobalt single-atom catalyst with tunable cobalt content is synthesized.

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References

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