Zn-Assisted Synthesis of M (Mn/Fe/Co/Ni)-N-C Catalysts: For Multifunctional Electrochemical Activity
Category
Sciences and Technology
Department
Material Science
Student Status
Graduate
Research Advisor
Dr. Ram K. Gupta
Document Type
Event
Location
Sunflower
Start Date
10-4-2025 8:30 AM
End Date
10-4-2025 8:50 AM
Description
The design and development of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts (metal (M) supported on nitrogen-carbon (NC) matrix with high multifunctional electrocatalytic performance is desirable but remains a significant challenge. In this study, we synthesized M-N-C catalysts (M = Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni) using Zn-assisted high-temperature treatment and characterized them using various techniques. The prepared catalysts were tested for their electrocatalytic performance towards oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER and HER) as well as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. The results indicated that Mn-N-C catalyst showed higher performance towards both the ORR (E1/2 = 0.90 V) and OER (n10 = 279 mV/cm2 ) as compared to other prepared catalysts. In contrast, Fe-N-C displayed excellent HER activity (n10= 169 mV/cm2 ) as compared to others. The theoretical investigations suggested that Mn-N-C catalyst possessed HOMO energy close to LUMO of O2, facilitating easy electron transfer from HOMO (3d of Mn) to LUMO (pi* of O2), weakening the O-O bond. Whereas, in the case of HER of Fe-N-C catalyst, the results indicated optimum binding energy to remove O2 and H2 from the active site. This work provides a new approach to tuning the electronic and electrochemical features of the M-N-C catalyst, suggesting significant implications for catalyst design in energy conversion devices.
Zn-Assisted Synthesis of M (Mn/Fe/Co/Ni)-N-C Catalysts: For Multifunctional Electrochemical Activity
Sunflower
The design and development of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts (metal (M) supported on nitrogen-carbon (NC) matrix with high multifunctional electrocatalytic performance is desirable but remains a significant challenge. In this study, we synthesized M-N-C catalysts (M = Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni) using Zn-assisted high-temperature treatment and characterized them using various techniques. The prepared catalysts were tested for their electrocatalytic performance towards oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER and HER) as well as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. The results indicated that Mn-N-C catalyst showed higher performance towards both the ORR (E1/2 = 0.90 V) and OER (n10 = 279 mV/cm2 ) as compared to other prepared catalysts. In contrast, Fe-N-C displayed excellent HER activity (n10= 169 mV/cm2 ) as compared to others. The theoretical investigations suggested that Mn-N-C catalyst possessed HOMO energy close to LUMO of O2, facilitating easy electron transfer from HOMO (3d of Mn) to LUMO (pi* of O2), weakening the O-O bond. Whereas, in the case of HER of Fe-N-C catalyst, the results indicated optimum binding energy to remove O2 and H2 from the active site. This work provides a new approach to tuning the electronic and electrochemical features of the M-N-C catalyst, suggesting significant implications for catalyst design in energy conversion devices.
