Metal–Organic-Framework-Derived Atomically Dispersed Mn–N–C Electrocatalysts Boosting Oxygen Reduction Modulated by Anion Exchange of Permanganate

Mn–N–C materials have received increasing interest in recent years because of their low Fenton reactivity and ORR activity comparable to those of their Fe–N–C and Co–N–C counterparts. In this contribution, an atomically dispersed Mn–N–C electrocatalyst with a prominent oxygen reduction performance was constructed by employing a cationic Cd-MOF as a precursor that can facilely and accurately introduce MnO4 – anions through anion exchange. The best-performing Mn–N–C catalyst displays a 0.96 V (vs RHE) E onset (onset potential) and a 0.87 V (vs RHE) E 1/2 (half-wave potential) in an alkaline solution, which exceed those of the benchmark Pt/C catalyst. In particular, the maximal power density of the self-made zinc-air battery reaches 200 mW·cm–2, surpassing that of most reported Mn–N–C materials.