Preparation and Electrocatalytic Properties of One-Dimensional Nanorod-Shaped N, S Co-Doped Bimetallic Catalysts of FeCuS-N-C

Metal air batteries have gradually attracted public attention due to their advantages such as high power density, high energy density, high energy conversion efficiency, and clean and green products. Reasonable design of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts with high cost-effectiveness, high activity, and high stability is of great significance. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have the advantages of large specific surface area, high porosity, and designability, which make them widely used in many fields, especially in catalysis. This paper starts with regulating and optimizing the composition and structure of MOFs. A series of N, S co-doped electrocatalysts FeCuS-N-C were prepared by two high-temperature pyrolysis processes using N-doped carbon hollow nanorods derived from ZIF-8 as the substrate. The one-dimensional nanorod material derived from this MOF exhibits excellent electrocatalytic ORR performance (Eonset = 0.998 V, E1/2 = 0.874 V). When used as the air cathode catalyst for zinc air batteries and assembled into liquid ZABs, the battery discharge curve was calculated and found to have a maximum power density of 142.7 mW cm−2, a specific capacity of 817.1 mAh gZn−1, and a cycling stability test of over 400 h. This study provides an innovative approach for designing and optimizing non-precious metal catalysts for zinc air batteries.