Nickel single atoms anchored on pyridinic N dominated porous carbon for enhanced electrochemical 4‐electron oxygen reduction

Niu, Shanshan, Yang, Ji, Qi, Haifeng, Qian, Lei-Lei, Du, Pan, Si, Nan, Gu, Xiaomin, Jiang, Dawei and Feng, Yan 2025. Nickel single atoms anchored on pyridinic N dominated porous carbon for enhanced electrochemical 4‐electron oxygen reduction. ChemCatChem 10.1002/cctc.202401934 Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

The four‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is at the heart of key renewable energy technologies including fuel cells and rechargeable metal‐air batteries, but its wide use necessitates the development of efficient yet inexpensive catalysts. In this study, we have engineered single Ni atoms supported on nitrogen‐doped porous carbon with a high content of pyridinic nitrogen (referred to as Ni1‐NC‐G‐NH3). This was accomplished by pyrolyzing a Zn/Ni‐ZIF/glucose composite and subsequently treating it with ammonia. Remarkably, the glucose facilitates the formation of isolated Ni atoms within an ammonia reduction atmosphere. Furthermore, we have attained a substantial nitrogen doping level of up to 13 atomic percent, with a significant enrichment of pyridinic nitrogen, constituting 39.5% of the total nitrogen content. Owing to the synergistic interaction between the pyridinic nitrogen and the Ni‐Nx sites within the ZIF‐derived porous carbon matrix, the Ni1‐NC‐G‐NH3 catalyst demonstrates exceptional ORR catalytic activity and a nearly four‐electron selectivity that rivals the commercial Pt/C catalyst in alkaline environments.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Chemistry Research Institutes & Centres > Cardiff Catalysis Institute (CCI)
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor, Start Date: 2025-02-12
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	1867-3880
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	24 February 2025
Date of Acceptance:	11 February 2025
Last Modified:	24 Feb 2025 15:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/176428

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