Synergistic catalysis of satellite single-atomic Fe sites and RuFe nanoclusters on N-rich carbon nanoflowers for boosting oxygen reduction

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 699; no. Pt 1; p. 138169
• Main Authors: Wang, Chen-Yang, Ren, Cheng-Zhi, Fang, Ke-Ming, Feng, Jiu-Ju, Shi, Yacheng, Gao, Yi-Jing, Wang, Ai-Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2025
• Subjects: Nanoclusters; Nitrogen-rich carbon nanoflowers; Oxygen reduction reaction; Single atoms; Synergistic effect; Nitrogen-rich carbon nanoflowers; Single atoms; Synergistic effect; Oxygen reduction reaction; Nanoclusters
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2025.138169

[Display omitted] Improving oxygen reduction activity and stability of catalysts is an effective strategy, which can be achieved by fine-regulating electronic structure of active centers and adsorption behavior of intermediates through synergistic effects and multiple coordination between the metal clusters and single-atom sites. Herein, we introduce a dual-linker-engaged self-assembly strategy to construct three-dimensional nitrogen-rich carbon nanoflowers with a simultaneous loading of satellite Fe single atoms (SAs) and RuFe nanoclusters (NCs) by high-temperature pyrolysis. X-ray absorption fine structure characterizations and DFT calculations confirm that the synergistic interactions between single-atomic Fe sites (coordinated as Fe-N4) and RuFe NCs significantly enhance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. The cooperative effect between the RuFe NCs and the Fe-N4 sites optimizes the adsorption energy of the reaction intermediates and lowers the energy barrier of the potential determining step, thereby improving the reaction kinetics. Leveraging these structural characteristics, the Fe/RuFe@N-CNFs exhibits excellent ORR performance, with a half-wave potential of 0.87 V in a 0.1 M KOH solution. When applied in the home-made Zn-air battery, the Fe/RuFe@N-CNFs delivers a high peak power density of 110.5 mW cm−2 and long-term cycle stability, which reveals its promising application in energy storage devices. This study presents a cooperative modulation strategy between the SAs and NCs, providing a feasible approach for design and synthesis of high-performance catalysts with precisely controlled active centers.