2D nanoplate assembled nitrogen doped hollow carbon sphere decorated with Fe₃O₄ as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction and Zn-air batteries

Designing a highly efficient non-precious based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst is critical for the commercialization of various sustainable energy storage and conversion devices such as metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Herein, we report a convenient strategy to synthesis Fe₃O₄ embedded in N doped hollow carbon sphere (NHCS) for ORR. What's interesting is that the carbon microsphere is composed of two-dimensional (2D) nanoplate that could provide more exposed active sites. The usage of solid ZnO nanowires as zinc source is crucial to obtain this structure. The Fe₃O₄@NHCS-2 exhibits better catalytic activity and durability than the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, it further displays high-performance of Zn-air batteries as a cathode electrocatalyst with a high-power density of 133 mW·cm^-2 and high specific capacity of 701 mA·h·g^-1. The special hollow structure composed 2D nanoplate, high surface area, as well as synergistic effect between the high active Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and N-doped matrix endows this outstanding catalytic activity. The work presented here can be easily extended to prepare metal compounds decorated carbon nanomaterials with special structure for a broad range of energy storage and conversion devices.