Dispersed iron carbide nanoparticles confined in nitrogen and oxygen co-doped porous carbon framework as efficient electrocatalysts for zinc/air batteries

Exploiting highly effective and low-cost non-noble metal catalysts for metal/air batteries are still remain a great challenge. In this work, an “active site-framework” structure, namely iron carbide embedded in nitrogen and oxygen co-doped porous carbon framework (A-Fe3C@NO-PC), is successfully synthesized by a polydopamine-protection-assisted pyrolysis strategy. The as-prepared catalyst possesses excellent catalytic activity with a half-wave-potential of 0.85 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) for oxygen reduction reaction. In addition, this A-Fe3C@NO-PC loaded zinc/air battery exhibits a negligible voltage gap increase after 300 continuous cycle tests (52 h) at the current density of 50 mA cm−2. The excellent catalytic performance of the catalyst is contributed to high electronic conductivity of Fe3C, high contents of pyridinic and graphitic-N doped porous carbon framework. The concept and achievement can inspire the development of the surface engineering to design other transition metal species decorated carbon catalysts for metal/air batteries.