Constructing single-atom Fe sites into defective carbon for efficient oxygen reduction

Achieving highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts to replace Pt-based materials remains a significant challenge. In the June issue of Chem Catalysis, Prof. Wang's group reported a single-atom Fe-carbon catalysis with Fe-C5 coordination for stable and efficient oxygen electroreduction. Achieving highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts to replace Pt-based materials remains a significant challenge. In the June issue of Chem Catalysis, Prof. Wang's group reported a single-atom Fe-carbon catalysis with Fe-C5 coordination for stable and efficient oxygen electroreduction. Precisely constructing pentagon trapped single-atomic iron sites in defective carbon for efficient oxygen electroreductionWang et al.Chem CatalysisMay 29, 2024In BriefA custom-made single atomic Fe catalyst with pentagon carbon defect-coordinated Fe-C5 configuration was precisely synthesized via a chemical vapor deposition strategy for trapping separated Fe atoms into pre-synthesized pentagon-rich defective carbon (PDC). The optimized electronic state with more charge transfer and down-shifted d-band center enables this catalyst's high intrinsic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. Our work gives new insight into boosting catalytic performance of single-atomic catalysts via precise design and synthesis of active sites with specific coordination. Full-Text PDF