Atomically Dispersed CoN3C1-TeN1C3 Diatomic Sites Anchored in N-doped Carbon as Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Synergistic Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction

Abstract

The development of high atomic economic efficiency catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are important for the large-scale application of renewable energy technologies but still challenging. Herein, we reported a novel encapsulation-adsorption-pyrolysis strategy for the construction of atomically dispersed Co-Te diatomic sites (DASs) that are anchored in N-doped carbon (N-C) as efficient bifunctional catalyst for synergistic electrocatalytic HER and ORR. The as-constructed catalyst has stable and special CoN3C1-TeN1C3 coordination structures, Coδ+ has adsorption-activation function and the neighbouring Teδ+ acts as an electron donor adjusting the electronic structure of Coδ+, promoting the dissociation of H2O molecules and the adsorption of H and oxygen-containing intermediates in HER and ORR. This work provides numerous new opportunities to rational design and artificial synthesis of DASs catalysts for energy conversion.