The preparation of Fe, N Co-doped ZIF-derived carbon nanosheet catalysts for oxygen reduction electrocatalyst in zinc-air batteries

A co-doping approach involving transition metals and heteroatoms was employed to successfully synthesize carbon nanosheet catalysts co-doped with iron (Fe) and nitrogen (N). Employing ferrous sulfate as the Fe source, ZIF-8 as the carbon substrate, 1,10-phenanthroline as the metal chelating agent and nitrogen source, Fe2+ can automatically adhere to the ZIF-8 N-doped carbon nanosheets under the chelation of 1,10-phenanthroline. After pyrolysis, Fe is successfully incorporated into the carbon matrix, the generation of numerous ORR active sites, Fe-Nx, are formed, enhancing the ORR catalytic efficiency. In alkaline solutions, the synthesized Fe-NCF-2 catalyst exhibits excellent ORR electrocatalytic activity compared to commercial Pt/C (20 wt% Pt). The ZAB assembled with Fe-NCF-2 as the air cathode demonstrates outstanding performance. This provides an economically viable preparation strategy for exploring efficient catalysts for the ORR. [Display omitted] •The Fe and N co-doped carbon nanosheet catalyst, Fe-NCF-2, was successful synthesized.•Rich Fe-Nx active sites and porous structures of Fe-NCF-2 raised catalytic activity.•Fe-NCF-2 electrocatalysts displayed a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.88 V (ORR).•The Fe-NCF-2 zinc-air battery exhibited a high specific capacity of 1158 mAh gZn−1.•The Fe-NCF-2 zinc-air battery showed a peak power density of 140.78 mW cm−2.