Coordination compound-derived FeN/FeN/Fe/CNT for efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution: a facile one-step synthesis in the absence of extra nitrogen source.

By annealing an Fe(III)-coordination compound (Fe-CC), [FeCl(Hbta)] (Hbta = benzotriazole) in the presence of a carbon nanotube precursor (PCNT) template, an FeN/FeN/Fe/CNT heterostructure was successfully synthesized without an extra nitrogen source. The decomposition of the Hbta in Fe-CC under high-temperature annealing can produce carbon sheets and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and the presence of CNTs can alleviate the stacking of thegenerated carbon materials. Meanwhile, iron nitride nanoparticles (NPs) can be anchored on the carbon sheets, and the anchoring effect efficiently prevents the agglomeration of NPs and increases the amount of active catalytic sites for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Coordination Polymer-Derived FeN Nanoparticles for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution.

Based on a coordination polymer, FeCl(4,4'-bpy) (4,4'-bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine) and the carbon nanotube (CNT)/NaCl dual template, FeN nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via chemical thermolysis in the absence of an extra nitrogen source. The decomposition of 4,4'-bpy under high temperature produces thin carbon coating for FeN NPs. Also, the CNT template anchors the FeN NPs to avoid aggregation.