<p>The Fe–N–C single-atom catalyst represents a promising candidate for promoting the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is crucial for fuel cell applications; yet, identifying optimal modification strategies to enhance its activity and stability remains challenging. Herein, the modulation of Fe–N–C catalysts via in-plane heteroatom doping and axial coordination is systematically investigated using integrated density functional theory (DFT) and machine learning (ML) approaches. The analysis reveals that axial ligands have a more profound influence on ORR performance than in-plane dopants, primarily by modulating the Fe d<sub>z2</sub> orbital and weakening *OH adsorption. Through interpretable descriptors extracted from ML models, the key electronic and geometric properties governing catalyst behavior are identified, and several novel dual-modified candidates with enhanced activity relative to pristine Fe–N–C are subsequently predicted and validated by DFT calculations. This work provides a unified mechanistic and data-driven framework for accelerating the design of high-performance Fe–N–C ORR electrocatalysts.</p>

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Dual modulation of Fe–N–C catalysts via axial and in-plane heteroatoms for oxygen reduction: A combined DFT and machine learning study

  • Zongxuan Yang,
  • Qingchen Wu,
  • Hongwei Zhang,
  • Cejun Hu,
  • Junjie Ge,
  • Xiaojun Bao,
  • Pei Yuan

摘要

The Fe–N–C single-atom catalyst represents a promising candidate for promoting the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is crucial for fuel cell applications; yet, identifying optimal modification strategies to enhance its activity and stability remains challenging. Herein, the modulation of Fe–N–C catalysts via in-plane heteroatom doping and axial coordination is systematically investigated using integrated density functional theory (DFT) and machine learning (ML) approaches. The analysis reveals that axial ligands have a more profound influence on ORR performance than in-plane dopants, primarily by modulating the Fe dz2 orbital and weakening *OH adsorption. Through interpretable descriptors extracted from ML models, the key electronic and geometric properties governing catalyst behavior are identified, and several novel dual-modified candidates with enhanced activity relative to pristine Fe–N–C are subsequently predicted and validated by DFT calculations. This work provides a unified mechanistic and data-driven framework for accelerating the design of high-performance Fe–N–C ORR electrocatalysts.