Inhibiting Demetalation of Fe─N─C via Mn Sites for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Zinc‐Air Batteries

Demetalation caused by the electrochemical dissolution of metallic Fe atoms is a major challenge for the practical application of Fe─N─C catalysts. Herein, an efficient single metallic Mn active site is constructed to improve the strength of the Fe─N bond, inhibiting the demetalation effect of Fe─N─C. Mn acts as an electron donor inducing more delocalized electrons to reduce the oxidation state of Fe by increasing the electron density, thereby enhancing the Fe─N bond and inhibiting the electrochemical dissolution of Fe. The oxygen reduction reaction pathway for the dissociation of Fe─Mn dual sites can overcome the high energy barriers to direct O─O bond dissociation and modulate the electronic states of Fe─N