TEA driven C, N co-doped superfine Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for efficient trifunctional electrode materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Poor electrical conductivity hinders the electrochemical performance of iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles.
• Developing advanced electrode materials is crucial for high-performance energy storage devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel carbon and nitrogen co-doped ultrafine Fe3O4 nanoparticles (CN-Fe3O4).
• To enhance the electrochemical performance of Fe3O4 for supercapacitors.
• To investigate the bifunctional catalytic activity of the synthesized material.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of CN-Fe3O4 nanoparticles using triethylamine (TEA) induction and calcination.
• Characterization of the material's structure, morphology, and properties.
• Electrochemical testing for supercapacitor performance (specific capacitance, cycling stability).
• Evaluation of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activities.

Main Results:

• TEA addition regulated nanoparticle size and formed an amorphous carbon layer.
• CN-Fe3O4 heterostructures created a conductive network, improving electron transfer and electrolyte diffusion.
• The electrode achieved a high specific capacitance of 399.3 mF cm⁻² with good cycling stability.
• The catalyst demonstrated excellent OER and HER activities with low overpotentials (136 mV for OER, 281 mV for HER at 10 mA cm⁻²).

Conclusions:

• The developed CN-Fe3O4 nanoparticles offer a promising approach for high-performance anode materials in supercapacitors.
• This work provides significant implications for designing catalysts with bifunctional catalytic activity.
• The strategy enhances conductivity and electrochemical properties of Fe3O4-based materials.