@article{Liu2025, 
author = {Peilin Liu and Yuanqing Sun and Jiaqing Luo and Zehua Dong and Peng Zhang and Shaoming Zhong and Yuechang Wei and Weiyu Song and Yu Wang and Zhenxing Li and Zhen Zhao and Jian Liu},
title = {CoFe alloy embedded in ultra-thin nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets derived from CoFe LDH as efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalyst for Zn-air batteries},
year = {2025},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {18},
number = {2},
pages = {94907139},
keywords = {nitrogen-doped carbon, Zn-air battery, bifunctional catalyst, adsorption energy, CoFe alloy},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2025.94907139},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2025.94907139},
abstract = {In response to alleviate the escalating environmental pollution and energy scarcity, the development of a cost-effective, efficient and stable bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction/oxygen evolution reaction (ORR/OER) electrochemical catalyst for new energy conversion devices holds significant value. In this context, we present a two-step hydrothermal/annealing synthesis approach of CoFe alloy nanoparticles on nitrogen-doped ultra-thin carbon nanosheets as an excellent ORR/OER bifunctional catalyst. The hydrothermal process facilitates the intercalation of CoFe layered double hydroxide (CoFe LDH) onto the nitrogen-doped ultra-thin carbon layer, followed by an in-situ transformation into carbon-coated nano-alloy particles (Co3Fe7@NCNS) during high-temperature annealing. Co3Fe7@NCNS exhibits exceptional ORR activity (onset potential (Eonset) = 0.962 V, half-wave potential (E1/2) = 0.869 V) and bifunctional electrocatalytic performance, accompanied by a low reversible overvoltage of 0.82 V. Combining X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we elucidate that the strong interactions between the synthesized Co3Fe7@NCNS alloy particles optimize the adsorption energy of oxygen intermediates, thereby playing a crucial role in enhancing catalytic activity. Furthermore, the Co3Fe7@NCNS-equipped Zn-air battery demonstrates a higher open-circuit voltage of 1.46 V and remarkable power density of 202.8 mW·cm−2. It also exhibits excellent cycling stability, with a high specific capacity of 779.2 mA·h·g−1, outperforming that of the Pt/C-RuO2 counterpart.}
}