Efficient
Bifunctional Fe/C/N Electrocatalysts for
Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reaction
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Abstract
Efficient electrocatalysts for both
the oxygen reduction reaction
(ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are critical components
of various energy conversion devices such as regenerative fuel cells
and metal–air batteries. Herein, we report bifunctional transition-metal-doped
carbon/nitrogen (M/C/N) materials that simultaneously electrocatalyze
the ORR and OER. The OER potential of the Fe/C/N catalyst at a current
density of 10 mA cm<sup>–2</sup> was 1.59 V<sub>RHE</sub>,
and its ORR half-wave potential was 0.83 V<sub>RHE</sub>. Significantly,
the Fe/C/N catalyst provided a potential gap of 0.76 V between the
OER potential (at 10 mA cm<sup>–2</sup>) and the ORR half-wave
potential; this is the highest activity reported to date for a non-precious-metal
catalyst. Two types of active center, the transition metal and a nitrogen
atom, are likely responsible for the oxygen bifunctional activity