In order to facilitate the large-scale applications of rechargeable Zn–air batteries, non-noble-metal based materials with high activity for oxygen reduction (ORR) and evolution reactions (OER) are highly needed for replacing noble-metal based materials. Here, a new method is used for developing Cu-doped ZIF-67 (Cu/ZIF-67) nanoparticles and carbonizing at various temperatures (500–900 °C). Benefiting from the doping of Cu nanoparticles on the surface of the ZIF-67 and the synergistic interaction between Cu and the underlying Co atoms, the Cu/Co-NC-800 electrocatalyst exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity for both ORR (E_o 0.98, E_1/2 0.84 V) and OER (overpotential 0.278 V) and superior alkaline media stability relative to both prepared and commercial Pt/C (E_o 0.96 V). These insightful findings inspire new perspectives for economical-practical bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts to be designed and synthesized rationally.

为了促进可再充电Zn-空气电池的大规模应用，非常需要具有高活性的非贵金属基材料来还原氧气（ORR）和析出反应（OER），以取代贵金属基材料。在这里，一种新方法被用于开发掺杂Cu的ZIF-67（Cu / ZIF-67）纳米颗粒，并在各种温度（500–900°C）下碳化。受益于ZIF-67表面铜纳米颗粒的掺杂以及Cu与下面的Co原子之间的协同相互作用，Cu / Co-NC-800电催化剂对两种ORR均显示出优异的电催化活性（E _o 0.98，E ₁相对于制得的Pt / C和商用Pt / C（E _{o / 2）为}0.82 V）/ OER（0.278 V超电势）和优异的碱性介质稳定性0.96 V）。这些有见地的发现为合理设计和合成经济实用的双功能氧电催化剂提供了新的见解。