Atomically Dispersed Selenium Sites on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction

Abstract

Owing to their unique electronic structure and maximum atom utilization efficiency, single-atom catalysts have received widespread attention and exhibited efficient activity. Herein, we report the preparation of non-metal Se single atoms embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) via a high-temperature reduction strategy for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Selenium dioxide is reduced to selenium by NC at high temperature and partially anchored to form C−Se−C bond. Impressively, the obtained single-atom catalyst exhibits outstanding ORR activity and stability that even surpasses state-of-the-art noble metal catalysts and many previously reported nanocatalysts. Experimental and theoretical calculations reveal that the Se single atoms can serve as the ORR active sites and contribute to lowering the reaction barrier. Our discoveries demonstrate the promising prospects for utilizing metal-free single-atom-based materials for efficient electrocatalysis.