Publication

2D Single-Atom Catalyst with Optimized Iron Sites Produced by Thermal Melting of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Authors

Liu, Dong; Li, Jin-Cheng; Ding, Shichao; Lyu, Zhaoyuan; Feng, Shuo; Tian, Hangyu; Huyan, Chenxi; Xu, Mingjie; Li, Tao; Du, Dan; Liu, Peng; Shao, Minhua; Lin, Yuehe

Abstract

Zeolitic-imidazolate-frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) derivatives have recently been demonstrated as one of the most ideal precursors to prepare single-atom metal catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, abundant single-atom metal sites are buried in the derived carbon nanoparticles, rendering them useless for ORR. Here a novel ZIF-8 ​“thermal melting” strategy is proposed to prepare a high specific surface area of Fe-N-doped graphene nanosheets (Fe-N/GNs) with single-atom Fe-sites on the surface which are accessible to electrolytes, optimizing their utilization and improving ORR activity. As a result, the Fe-N/GNs material exhibits excellent ORR activity with half-wave potentials of 0.903 V in alkaline media and 0.837 V in acidic media, which are comparable to commercial Pt/C catalysts.