Cooperation between Dual Metal Atoms and Nanoclusters Enhances Activity and Stability for Oxygen Reduction and Evolution.

Wang, Zhe; Jin, Xiaoyan; Xu, Ruojie; Yang, Zhenbei; Ma, Shidong; Yan, Tao; Zhu, Chao; Fang, Jian et al. · ACS Nano · 2023

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We have achieved the synthesis of dual-metal single atoms and atomic clusters that co-anchor on a highly graphitic carbon support. The catalyst comprises Ni<sub>4</sub> (and Fe<sub>4</sub>) nanoclusters located adjacent to the corresponding NiN<sub>4</sub> (and FeN<sub>4</sub>) single-atom sites, which is verified by systematic X-ray absorption characterization and density functional theory calculations. A distinct cooperation between Fe<sub>4</sub> (Ni<sub>4</sub>) nanoclusters and the corresponding FeN<sub>4</sub> (NiN<sub>4</sub>) atomic sites optimizes the adsorption energy of reaction intermediates and reduces the energy barrier of the potential-determining steps. This catalyst exhibits enhanced oxygen reduction and evolution activity and long-cycle stability compared to counterparts without nanoclusters and commercial Pt/C. The fabricated Zn-air batteries deliver a high power density and long-term cyclability, demonstrating their prospects in energy storage device applications.