title: Carbon-Coated Core-Shell Fe-Cu Nanoparticles as Highly Active and Durable Electrocatalysts for a Zn-Air Battery.
abstract: Understanding the interaction between a catalyst and oxygen has been a key step in designing better electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as well as applying them in metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Alloying has been studied to finely tune the catalysts' electronic structures to afford proper binding affinities for oxygen. Herein, we synthesized a noble-metal-free and nanosized transition metal CuFe alloy encapsulated with a graphitic carbon shell as a highly efficient and durable electrocatalyst for the ORR in alkaline solution. Theoretical models and experimental results demonstrated that the CuFe alloy has a more moderate binding strength for oxygen molecules as well as the final product, OH(-), thus facilitating the oxygen reduction process. Furthermore, the nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon-coated layer, formed catalytically under the influence of iron, affords enhanced charge transfer during the oxygen reduction process and superior durability. These benefits were successfully confirmed by realizing the catalyst application in a mechanically rechargeable Zn-air battery.
authors.forename: Gyutae
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Joohyuk
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Pilgun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Suhyeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: §Beamline Research Division, Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 790-784 Pohang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Noejung
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jaephil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jang-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Zn−air battery; binding affinity; durable electrocatalyst; oxygen reduction reaction; transition metal alloy