2D Metal–Organic Framework Derived CuCo Alloy Nanoparticles Encapsulated by Nitrogen‐Doped Carbonaceous Nanoleaves for Efficient Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalyst and Zinc–Air Batteries

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The development of efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) still remains a challenge in a wide range of renewable energy technologies. Herein, CuCo alloy nanoparticles encapsulated by nitrogen‐doped carbonaceous nanoleaves (CuCo‐NC) have been synthesized from a Cu(OH) 2 /2D leaf‐like zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF‐L)‐pyrolysis approach. Leaf‐like Cu(OH) 2 is first prepared by the ultrasound‐induced self‐assembly of Cu(OH) 2 nanowires. The efficient encapsulation of Cu(OH) 2 in ZIF‐L is obtained owing to the morphology fitting between the leaf‐like Cu(OH) 2 and ZIF‐L. CuCo‐NC catalysts present superior electrocatalytic activity and stability toward ORR and OER over the commercial Pt/C and IrO 2 , respectively, which are further used as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts in Zn–air batteries and exhibit impressive performance, with a high peak power density of 303.7 mW cm −2 , large specific capacity of up to 751.4 mAh g −1 at 20 mA cm −2 , and a superior recharge stability.