Encapsulating atomic molybdenum into hierarchical nitrogen-doped carbon nanoboxes for efficient oxygen reduction

作者：Ma, Fei-Xiang; Zhang, Guobin; Wang, Meiyu; Liang, Xiongyi; Lyu, Fucong; Xiao, Xufen; Wang, Peng; Zhen, Liang; Lu, Jian; Zheng, Lirong^*; Li, Yang Yang^*; Xu, Cheng-Yan^*

来源：Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2022, 620: 67-76.

DOI：10.1016/j.jcis.2022.04.002

• Hollow structures
• Nanosheets
• Oxygen reduction reaction
• single-atom catalysts (SACs)
• Mo-N-4

Construction of single-atom catalysts (SACs) with maximally exposed active sites remains a challenging task mainly because of the lack of suitable host matrices. In this study, hierarchical N-doped carbon nano boxes composed of ultrathin nanosheets with dispersed atomic Mo (denoted as hierarchical SA-Mo-C nanoboxes) were fabricated via a template-engaged multistep synthesis process. Comprehensive characterizations, including X-ray absorption fine structure analysis, reveal the formation of Mo-N-4 atomic sites uniformly anchored on the hierarchical carbon nanoboxes. The prepared catalysts offer structural and morphological advantages, including ultrathin nanosheet units, unique hollow structures and abundant active Mo-N-4 species, that result in excellent activity with a half-wave potential of 0.86 V vs. RHE and superb stability for the oxygen reduction reaction in 0.1 M KOH; thus, the catalysts are promising air-cathode catalysts for Zn-air batteries with a high peak power density of 157.6 mW cm(-2).

• 单位
  中国科学院; 南京大学