Regulation of the d band center and geometric distortion via an axial nitrogen strategy of the Fe–N–C oxygen electrocatalyst for a Zn–air battery

The bifunctional catalyst Fe–N 5 C, with an axial N atom, shows improved oxygen reduction/evolution catalytic performance. The catalyst enables the aqueous rechargeable Zn–air battery to achieve a 330 h long serving time with only 0.84 V voltage gap.