@article{Zhou2023, 
author = {Xinyan Zhou and Kexin Song and Yu Feng and Chao Jiang and Zhongjun Chen and Zizhun Wang and Nailin Yue and Xin Ge and Wei Zhang and Weitao Zheng},
title = {Individually-atomic governing d–π* orbital interactions via Cu-promoted optimization of Fe-d band centers for high-efficiency zinc-air battery},
year = {2023},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {16},
number = {4},
pages = {4634-4642},
keywords = {dual-atom catalysts (DACs), electronic configuration, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), zinc-air battery},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1007/s12274-022-5091-y},
doi = {10.1007/s12274-022-5091-y},
abstract = {It is challenging for precise governing of electronic configuration of the individually-atomic catalysts toward optimal electrocatalysis, as d-band configuration of a metal center determines the adsorption behavior of reactive species to the center in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The addition of Cu atom modifies the d-band center position of Fe central atom, thus strengthening the d–π* orbital interactions. Herein, FeCu-NC catalyst in the nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) support containing individual dual-metal CuN4/FeN4 sites was prepared by the surface confinement strategy of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF), treated as a model catalyst. Experimentally and theoretically co-verified dual-metal CuN4/FeN4 sites highly dispersed in the NC support, enable transferring more electrons from FeN4 sites to *OH intermediates, thereby accelerating the desorption process of *OH species. Superior to those commercial Pt/C, Our FeCu-NC catalyst exhibited extraordinary ORR activity (with a E1/2 as high as 0.87 V) and cycling stability in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte, and thereof demonstrated excellent discharge performance in zinc-air batteries. Our construction of dual-atom catalysts (DACs) provides a strategy for atom-by-atom designing high-efficiency catalysts via orbital regulation.}
}