Iron atom–cluster interactions increase activity and improve durability in Fe–N–C fuel cells

Xin Wan, Qingtao Liu, Jieyuan Liu, Shiyuan Liu, Xiaofang Liu, Lirong Zheng, Jiaxiang Shang, Ronghai Yu and Jianglan Shui ()
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Xin Wan: Beihang University
Qingtao Liu: Beihang University
Jieyuan Liu: Beihang University
Shiyuan Liu: Beihang University
Xiaofang Liu: Beihang University
Lirong Zheng: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jiaxiang Shang: Beihang University
Ronghai Yu: Beihang University
Jianglan Shui: Beihang University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Simultaneously increasing the activity and stability of the single-atom active sites of M–N–C catalysts is critical but remains a great challenge. Here, we report an Fe–N–C catalyst with nitrogen-coordinated iron clusters and closely surrounding Fe–N4 active sites for oxygen reduction reaction in acidic fuel cells. A strong electronic interaction is built between iron clusters and satellite Fe–N4 due to unblocked electron transfer pathways and very short interacting distances. The iron clusters optimize the adsorption strength of oxygen reduction intermediates on Fe–N4 and also shorten the bond amplitude of Fe–N4 with incoherent vibrations. As a result, both the activity and stability of Fe–N4 sites are increased by about 60% in terms of turnover frequency and demetalation resistance. This work shows the great potential of strong electronic interactions between multiphase metal species for improvements of single-atom catalysts.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30702-z

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