摘要：The sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)hinders the commercialization of Zn‐air batteries(ZABs).Manipulating the electronic structure of electrocatalysts to optimize the adsorption energy of oxygen‐containing intermediates during the 4e–ORR offers a practical route toward improving ORR ***,we designed a novel ORR electrocatalyst containing Co single atoms and nanoparticles supported by carbon dots‐derived carbon nanoflowers(Co SAs/NPs CNF).Co SAs/NPs CNF possessed a very high ORR activity(E_(1/2) of the Co SAs/NPs CNF catalyst is 0.83 V(***)),and outstanding catalytic performance and stability when used as the air‐electrode catalyst in rechargeable ZABs(152.32 mW cm^(-2),1000.58 mWh gZn^(–1),and over 1300 cycles at a current density of 5 mA cm^(-2)).The Co SAs and Co NPs cooperated to improve electron and proton transfer processes during *** calculations revealed that the presence of adjacent Co NPs optimized the electronic structure of the isolated Co‐N_(4) sites,significantly lowering the energy barriers for the rate‐determining step in ORR(adsorption of*OOH)and thereby delivering outstanding ORR *** work reveals that the combination of supported single‐atom sites and metal nanoparticles can be highly beneficial for ORR electrocatalysis,outperforming catalysts containing only Co SAs or Co NPs.

摘要：高效、高选择性的单原子催化剂(SACs)在电催化硝酸盐还原制氨过程中具有重要作用。然而,由于中间体、金属活性中心和配位环境之间复杂的竞争性电子相互作用,仍然面临挑战。本研究采用密度泛函理论(DFT)计算,对27种SACs以及双层SACs(BSACs)进行了系统研究,通过轴向d-d轨道杂化提高了从SACs到BSACs的电催化硝酸盐还原反应(NO_(3)RR)的活性和选择性。考虑到可能的O端、N端、NO端和NO二聚体途径,计算结果显示,在单层SACs中,Ti-Pc和V-Pc分别具有优异的极限电位(U_(L)),分别为-0.24和-0.48V。形成能、溶解势以及从头算分子动力学结果表明,在反应条件下,这些催化剂非常稳定。在这些单层TM-Pc中,它们的d带能级和占据数受到d_(xz)/d^(yz)和p_(z)轨道杂化的影响。其轴向d_(z^(2))轨道的可用性通过形成d_(z^(2))-d_(z^(2))相互作用来进一步调整d带和反应性。在此基础上,以Ti-Pc和V-Pc为底物,通过形成轴向d-d轨道杂化来构建BSACs,为调节NO_(3)RR催化性能提供了一种独特的新途径。重要的是,我们发现d带中心(εd)、d_(xz)+d_(yz)轨道的占据数和U_(L)之间存在二维火山关系,用于描述它们的NO_(3)RR催化性能。最佳的BSACs应该同时具备适当的ε_(d)和d_(xz)+d_(yz)占用数。Ti-Mo和Ti-Ta被确定为出色的NO_(3)RR催化剂,其U_(L)均降低至-0.13 V。而d_(z^(2))-d_(z^(2))轨道之间的杂化则增强了双层金属之间的电荷转移和结构稳定性。缺乏相邻的金属位点将导致生成NO_(2)、NO和N_(2)的能垒较高,从而抑制副产物生成。最终,本研究揭示了在SACs和BSACs上对硝酸盐还原进行合理优化的方法,可为改进电催化剂的设计提供指导。