Frontiers in Chemistry (Aug 2022)

Constructing atomically-dispersed Mn on ZIF-derived nitrogen-doped carbon for boosting oxygen reduction

  • Yaoyao Deng,
  • Jiazheng Pang,
  • Wenzheng Ge,
  • Minxi Zhang,
  • Wentao Zhang,
  • Wei Zhang,
  • Mei Xiang,
  • Quanfa Zhou,
  • Jirong Bai

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2022.969905
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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Exploring durable and highly-active non-noble-metal nanomaterials to supersede Pt-based nanomaterials is an effective way, which can reduce the cost and boost the catalytic efficiency of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we constructed atomically-dispersed Mn atoms on the ZIF-derived nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks (Mn-Nx/NC) by stepwise pyrolysis. The Mn-Nx/NC relative to pure nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity with a higher half-wave potential (E1/2 = 0.88 V) and a modest Tafel slope (90 mV dec−1) toward ORR. The enhanced ORR performance of Mn-Nx/NC may be attributed to the existence of Mn-Nx active sites, which can more easily adsorb intermediates, promoting the efficiency of ORR. This work provides a facile route to synthesize single-atom catalysts for ORR.

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