近日，内蒙古大学王蕾团队研究了基于自由基清除策略的NbN改性Fe-N-C催化剂上的耐用锌空气电池。相关论文于2026年3月31日发表在《德国应用化学》杂志上。

金属-氮-碳（M-N-C）催化剂是用于氧还原反应（ORR）的非贵金属催化剂，具有广阔前景，但其实际应用受限于长期稳定性不足。这一限制主要源于双电子副产物H₂O₂的生成以及单原子位点的结构退化。研究组提出一种自由基清除策略，通过将非贵金属氮化铌纳米颗粒引入Fe-N-C基体（FeNC-NbN）中，实现了优异的ORR性能。FeNC-NbN催化剂表现出高的半波电位（E_1/2 = 0.94 VRHE），且性能衰减可忽略不计。此外，配备FeNC-NbN的锌空气电池展现出卓越的性能，峰值功率密度达206.4 mW cm^-2，循环稳定性长达2400小时，超越了大多数已报道的催化剂。

结合原位拉曼光谱、原位衰减全反射表面增强红外吸收光谱分析及理论计算，结果表明NbN的引入通过提高FeNC框架中吡咯氮的含量，增强了ORR活性。同时，Nb的未占据d轨道能有效与自由基相互作用并清除自由基，从而保护活性位点免受降解，确保了优异的催化活性和稳定性。该工作为开发高效、稳定的非贵金属ORR电催化剂提供了一条可行的途径。

附：英文原文

Title: Durable Zinc-Air Batteries on a NbN-Modified Fe-N-C Catalyst via a Radical-Scavenging Strategy

Author: Chao Fan, Xingchen Chai, Rui-Ting Gao, Limin Wu, Lei Wang

Issue&Volume: 2026-03-31

Abstract: Metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) catalysts are promising non-precious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), yet their practical application is hindered by insufficient long-term stability. The limitation primarily stems from the generation of the two-electron byproduct H2O2 and the structural degradation of single-atom sites. Herein, we report a radical-scavenging strategy through the incorporation of non-precious niobium nitride nanoparticles into a Fe-N-C matrix (FeNC-NbN), which achieves exceptional ORR performance. The FeNC-NbN catalyst exhibits a high half-wave potential (E1/2 = 0.94 VRHE) with negligible degradation. Furthermore, Zn-air batteries equipped with FeNC-NbN demonstrate outstanding performance, delivering a peak power density of 206.4 mW cm2 and an ultralong cycling durability of 2400 h, surpassing most previously reported catalysts. Combined in situ Raman spectroscopy, in situ attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy analyses, and theoretical calculations reveal that the integration of NbN enhances ORR activity by increasing the pyrrolic N content within the FeNC framework. Concurrently, the vacant d-orbitals of Nb effectively interact with and scavenge free radicals, thereby protecting the active sites from degradation and ensuring excellent catalytic activity and stability. This work establishes a viable pathway for developing efficient and durable non-precious ORR electrocatalysts.

DOI: 10.1002/anie.202521827

Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202521827