Hierarchical Ni 3 ZnN Hollow Microspheres as Stable Non-Noble Metal Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions

Ternary nitrides are now being considered as one of the emerging advanced functional materials owing to characteristic features and remarkable physicochemical properties that have rationale to substitute precious metals in many applied areas. The present work is focused on Ni 3 ZnN hollow microspheres for the first time, synthesized by nitridation of the NiO/ZnO precursors in ammonia atmosphere. The precursors composed of 1 μm spheres were made through coordination of terephthalic acid (H 2 BDC) and Zn 2+ /Ni 2+ cations by solvothermal treatment. The prepared bimetallic nitride is a new single crystalline ternary nitride that belongs to cubic crystal phase (space group Pm-3m, No. 221). Ni 3 ZnN hollow microspheres were applied as electrocatalyst for proficiently catalyzing the oxygen reduction reactions (ORR), and exhibited very good catalytic activity with the onset potential of 0.81 V versus RHE in alkaline media. After 2000 cycles, Ni 3 ZnN hollow microspheres show only a 14 mV negative shift in its half-wave potential, suggesting high stability for the ORR. Our current results can show that new ternary nitride is a potential electrocatalytic material for renewable energy resource. Graphical Abstract A new ternary metal nitride (Ni 3 ZnN) has been successfully synthesized through a direct nitridation of the NiO/ZnO hollow microsphere precursors. The prepared bimetallic nitride is a new single crystalline ternary nitride that belongs to cubic crystal phase (space group Pm-3m, No.221). Ni 3 ZnN were applied as electrocatalyst for proficiently catalyzing the oxygen reduction reaction, and exhibited very good catalytic activity and stability