Iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts are a promising class of non-precious electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), with strong potential for integration into emerging energy technologies. Here, an oxygen-bridged axial coordination strategy is employed to anchor iron phthalocyanine (FePc) onto manganese oxide decorated carbon nanotubes (Mn₃O₄-CNTs). The resulting synergy between asymmetric Fe-N₄-O sites and heterojunction interfaces finely tailors the local coordination of Fe centers, which induces electron transfer from the Fe center to the axial O atom and downshifts the Fe d-band center, thereby weakening the adsorption strength of oxygen-containing intermediates and substantially boosting ORR activity. In alkaline media, the optimized FePc-Mn₃O₄-CNTs catalyst exhibits a high half-wave potential (E_1/2) of 0.89 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), a low Tafel slope of 41.51 mV·dec^–1, and follows an efficient four-electron pathway. This catalytic performance translates directly into a zinc-air battery that delivers a peak power density of 171.81 mW·cm^–2, a specific capacity of 754.12 mAh·g^–1, and stable operation for 160 h. This work demonstrates a coordinated strategy combining axial coordination engineering with heterojunction design to synergistically optimize the catalytic properties of Fe-N-C molecular catalysts.

Reasonable design of effective and durable electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is crucial for promoting the commercialization of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). In this work, a network-like PtCu structure supported on three-dimensional N-doped graphene-carbon nanotube (n-PtCu/3DNG-CNT) was successfully prepared via a rational design strategy. The three-dimensional N-doped graphene with an open porous structure facilitates methanol molecule transfer, exposes activity sites, and anchors metal catalysts effectively. The designed network-like PtCu structure, with lattice defects, steps, and twin grain boundaries, is befeficial for inducing new properties (lattice structure, electronic structure, and chemical structure), forming more effective active centers while enhancing its anti-CO poisoning ability through a bifunctional mechanism. Further characterizations reveal the existence of a complex interface effect between N-doped graphene and carbon nanotube, which is demonstrated in detail. The n-PtCu/3DNG-CNT catalyst exhibits excellent MOR activity and durability in an acidic medium.

Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) are a promising alternative to conventional energy sources, offering high energy density, environmental sustainability, and operational safety. Compared to methanol fuel cells, DEFCs exhibit lower toxicity and a more mature preparation process. Unlike hydrogen fuel cells, DEFCs provide superior storage and transport feasibility, as well as cost-effectiveness, significantly enhancing their commercial viability. However, the stable C–C bond in ethanol creates a high activation energy barrier, often resulting in incomplete electrooxidation. Current commercial platinum (Pt)- and palladium (Pd)-based catalysts demonstrate low C–C bond cleavage efficiency (<7.5%), severely limiting DEFC energy output and power density. Furthermore, high catalyst costs and insufficient activity impede large-scale commercialization. Recent advances in DEFC anode catalyst design have focused on optimizing material composition and elucidating catalytic mechanisms. This review systematically examines developments in ethanol electrooxidation catalysts over the past five years, highlighting strategies to improve C1 pathway selectivity and C–C bond activation. Key approaches, such as alloying, nanostructure engineering, and interfacial synergy effects, are discussed alongside their mechanistic implications. Finally, we outline current challenges and future prospects for DEFC commercialization.

The development of electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for sustainable energy and environmental initiatives. This work establishes an atomically-dispersed Ru-based model to investigate the promoting mechanism by the Ru-Integration effect in RuCo bimetallic nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped carbon (RuCo@NC). Specially, the Ru content in RuCo@NC plays a vital role for both HER and OER. The optimized catalyst shows an outstanding performance, requiring only 217 and 97 mV overpotential to reach a current density of 10 mA·cm⁻² for OER and HER respectively in alkaline conditions. Combined with advanced characterizations such as spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, in-situ Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations, it is found that Ru plays multiple crucial roles: (1) Ru restricts the growth of large Co NPs, while the small-sized Co NPs facilitate the formation of carbon nanotubes, which significantly enhances the mass/electron transfer; (2) Ru not only tunes the surface properties of Co but also acts as an active site for HER. As a result, when using RuCo@NC as an overall water splitting catalyst, it only needs a potential of 1.62 V to reach a current density of 100 mA·cm⁻². This work offers valuable insights into designing Ru-based electrocatalysts for water splitting.