In this work, we developed a neighboring Fe-Cr dual-atom catalyst (FeCr/N-P-C) that addresses one of the most persistent challenges in Fe-based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts: achieving high catalytic activity without sacrificing durability. By introducing atomically dispersed Cr adjacent to Fe active sites, we established strong Fe-Cr electronic coupling that simultaneously accelerates ORR kinetics and suppresses Fe-induced degradation. As a result, the catalyst delivers outstanding ORR performance and long-term stability, while also demonstrating excellent practical performance in rechargeable zinc-air batteries.

Key Insights

• Neighboring Fe-Cr dual sites enhance Fe activity through electronic coupling. Structural characterization confirms atomically dispersed Fe-Cr dual-atom sites embedded within an N,P-codoped carbon framework, enabling effective modulation of the Fe electronic structure.
• Intrinsic ORR activity is significantly improved. FeCr/N-P-C achieves a turnover frequency (TOF) of 0.534 s⁻¹ at 0.80 V, representing a 4.6-fold increase compared with the Fe single-atom catalyst.
• The catalyst exhibits excellent oxygen reduction performance. An onset potential of 1.01 V and half-wave potential of 0.845 V were achieved, surpassing monometallic Fe and Cr catalysts as well as commercial Pt/C under alkaline conditions.
• Cr promotes reaction kinetics while reducing degradation pathways. In situ studies reveal faster *OOH conversion together with suppressed peroxide accumulation, leading to more efficient ORR and reduced formation of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS).

• Remarkable durability was demonstrated. The catalyst shows only a 21 mV half-wave potential loss after 30,000 cycles and retains 85% of its initial current after 8 hours of continuous operation.
• Excellent device-level performance was achieved. Rechargeable zinc-air batteries based on FeCr/N-P-C deliver a peak power density of 187 mW cm⁻² and stable cycling for more than 150 hours, outperforming benchmark Pt/C-based systems.

Significance of This Work

In this study, we demonstrate that neighboring Fe-Cr electronic coupling can simultaneously improve the intrinsic activity and operational durability of Fe-based ORR catalysts. The neighboring Cr atom not only promotes oxygen-intermediate conversion but also suppresses Fe-induced Fenton reactions and ROS generation, mitigating catalyst degradation at its source.

Our findings establish Fe-Cr dual-atom engineering as an effective strategy for overcoming the traditional activity-stability trade-off in non-precious-metal electrocatalysts, providing new opportunities for the development of durable, high-performance catalysts for fuel cells, zinc-air batteries, and other sustainable energy technologies.

Authors & Affiliations

Yingying Guo†, Junfeng Wei†, Xiaohong Tan, Yuhang Xiao, Siyun Du, Hao Cui, and Chengxin Wang**
† These authors contributed equally to this work.

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.

Corresponding Authors

Prof. Hao Cui ✉ cuihao3@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Prof. Chengxin Wang ✉ wchengx@mail.sysu.edu.cn

How to Cite This Article

Guo, Y. et al. (2026). Neighboring Fe-Cr electronic coupling simultaneously promotes intrinsic activity and suppresses Fe-induced degradation for oxygen reduction electrocatalysis. Catal, 2, 17.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s44422-026-00031-z