Bimetal nanoparticles hybridized with carbon nanotube boosting bifunctional oxygen electrocatalytic performance

Abstract Developing bifunctional oxygen catalysts with high efficiency and low cost to replace platinum‐group metal catalysts commonly utilized in metal‐air batteries is critically desired. In this article, a convenient method to synthesis NiFe nanoparticles hybridized with N‐doped carbon nanotube (NiFe@N‐CNTs) is reported. Electrocatalytic performance analysis indicates that Ni x Fe 1− x @N‐CNTs offers favorable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics (onset potential ( E onset ) is 0.87 V and half‐wave potential ( E 1/2 ) is 0.84 V), together with excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance (an overpotential of 270 mV to drive 10 mA·cm −2 ). Contributed by the synergetic effect between NiFe alloy and N‐CNTs, when being utilized as air cathode, rechargeable Zn‐air batteries present superior cycling stability for over 150 h. This research provides a universal strategy to synthesize the hybrids of intertwined carbon nanotube matrix loaded with alloy nanoparticles.