Atomic CoN_(3)S_(1) sites for boosting oxygen reduction reaction via an atomic exchange strategy

It is vitally important to develop high-efficiency low-cost catalysts to boost oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)for renewable energy conversion.Herein,an A-CoN_(3)S_(1)@C electrocatalyst with atomic CoN_(3)S_(1)active sites loaded on N,S-codoped porous carbon was produced by an atomic exchange strategy.The constructed A-CoN_(3)S_(1)@C electrocatalyst exhibits an unexpected half-wave potential(0.901 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode)with excellent durability for ORR under alkaline conditions(0.1 M KOH),superior to the commercial platinum carbon(20 wt.%Pt/C).The outstanding performance of A-CoN_(3)S_(1)@C in ORR is due to the positive effect of S atoms doping on optimizing the electron structure of the atomic CoN_(3)S_(1)active sites.Moreover,the rechargeable zinc-air battery in which both A-CoN_(3)S_(1)@C and IrO_(2)were simultaneously served as cathode catalysts(A-CoN_(3)S_(1)@C&IrO_(2))exhibits higher energy efficiency,larger power density,as well as better stability,compared to the commercial Pt/C&IrO_(2)-based zinc-air battery.The present result should be helpful for developing lower cost and higher performance ORR catalysts which is expected to be used in practical applications in energy devices.