Abstract
Exploring advanced bifunctional catalysts to accelerate the slow kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER, for charging) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR, for discharging) is still a biggest challenge in fulfilling the demands of zinc-air batteries (ZABs). In this study, multi-scale porous nitrogen-rich large carbon networks modified by bimetallic FeNi alloys (MPFeNi@NC-900) were prepared by pyrolysis of a triazole-based energetic metal-organic framework (EMOF) at 900 °C. Benefiting from the multi-scale pores (micro-/meso-/macropores), high specific surface area (838.5 m2 g−1), high doped-N level (8.74at%), and synergistic bimetallic FeNi sites, the as-prepared MPFeNi@NC-900 shows an excellent ORR/OER catalytic performance (a small potential difference: ΔE = 0.7 V) and promising ZAB indicators (a superb power density of 216 mW cm−2, a high specific capacity of 716 mAh gZn−1, and a superior rate capability). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further validate that the electron interaction between bimetallic FeNi alloys and N doping could effectively diminish the free energies of OH⁎ and OOH⁎, thereby markedly enhancing the reaction kinetics of ORR and OER.
Published Version
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