Local Electric Fields Coupled with Cl⁻ Fixation Strategy for Improving Seawater Oxygen Reduction Reaction Performance

Authors

Yu-Rong Liu, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China
Miao Zhang, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China
Yan-Hui Yu, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China
Ya-Lin Liu, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China
Jing Li, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China
Xiao-Dong Shi, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China
Zhen-Ye Kang, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China
Dao-Xiong Wu, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China
Peng Rao, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, ChinaFollow
Ying Liang, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, ChinaFollow
Xin-Long Tian, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, ChinaFollow

Corresponding Author

Peng Rao (raopeng@hainanu.edu.cn);
Ying Liang (liangying@hainanu.edu.cn);
Xin-Long Tian (tianxl@hainanu.edu.cn)

Abstract

Development of robust electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in a seawater electrolyte is the key to realize seawater electrolyte-based zinc-air batteries (SZABs). Herein, constructing a local electric field coupled with chloride ions (Cl⁻) fixation strategy in dual single-atom catalysts (DSACs) was proposed, and the resultant catalyst delivered considerable ORR performance in a seawater electrolyte, with a high half-wave potential (E_1/2) of 0.868 V and a good maximum power density (Pmax) of 182 mW·cm⁻² in the assembled SZABs, much higher than those of the Pt/C catalyst (E_1/2: 0.846 V; Pmax: 150 mW·cm⁻²). The in-situ characterization and theoretical calculations revealed that the Fe sites have a higher Cl⁻ adsorption affinity than the Co sites, and preferentially adsorbs Cl⁻ in a seawater electrolyte during the ORR process, and thus constructs a low-concentration Cl⁻ local microenvironment through the common-ion exclusion effect, which prevents Cl⁻ adsorption and corrosion in the Co active centers, achieving impressive catalytic stability. In addition, the directional charge movement between Fe and Co atomic pairs establishes a local electric field, optimizing the adsorption energy of Co sites for oxygen-containing intermediates, and further improving the ORR activity.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Seawater zinc-air battery, Oxygen reduction reaction, Local electric field, Chloride ion fixation strategy, Single- atom catalyst

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.61558/2993-074X.3566

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Date

2025-09-28

Online Available Date

2025-06-03

Revised Date

2025-05-21

Received Date

2025-04-14

Recommended Citation

Yu-Rong Liu, Miao Zhang, Yan-Hui Yu, Ya-Lin Liu, Jing Li, Xiao-Dong Shi, Zhen-Ye Kang, Dao-Xiong Wu, Peng Rao, Ying Liang, Xin-Long Tian. Local Electric Fields Coupled with Cl⁻ Fixation Strategy for Improving Seawater Oxygen Reduction Reaction Performance[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2025 , 31(9): 2504132.
DOI: 10.61558/2993-074X.3566
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol31/iss9/3