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

Authors

Yurong 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.
Yanhui Yu, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
Yalin 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.
Xiaodong Shi, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
Zhenye Kang, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
Daoxiong 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, China.Follow
Ying Liang, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.Follow
Xinlong Tian, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.Follow

Document Type

Article

Corresponding Author(s)

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

Abstract

The development of robust electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in seawater electrolyte is the key to realize the seawater electrolyte-based zinc-air batteries (SZABs). Herein, constructing a local electric field coupled with Cl^— fixation strategy in dual single-atom catalysts (DSACs) is proposed, and the resultant catalyst delivers considerable ORR performance in 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 reveal that the Fe sites have a higher Cl⁻ adsorption affinity than the Co sites, preferentially adsorbs Cl⁻ in seawater electrolyte during the ORR process, thus constructs a low-concentration Cl⁻ local microenvironment through the common-ion exclusion effect, which prevents Cl⁻ adsorption and corrosion the Co active centers, achieving impressive catalytic stability. In addition, the directional charge movement between Fe and Co atomic pairs constructs 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 batteries, Oxygen reduction reaction, Local electric fields, Cl− fixation strategy, Single-atom catalysts

DOI

10.61558/2993-074X.3566

Online Date

6-3-2025

Recommended Citation

Yurong Liu, Miao Zhang , Yanhui Yu , Yalin Liu , Jing Li , Xiaodong Shi , Zhenye Kang , Daoxiong Wu , Peng Rao , Ying Liang , and Xinlong Tian. Local Electric Fields Coupled with Cl− Fixation Strategy Improves Seawater Oxygen Reduction Reaction Performance[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, doi: 10.61558/2993-074X.3566.