Morphology and electronic-structure modulation are of widespread interest when designing oxygen-evolution-reaction (OER) electrocatalysts for use in fuel cells. In this study, we prepared a NiTe2/NF@CuFe catalyst using replacement reactions and hydrothermal reduction. NiTe2-nanoparticle morphology was adjusted by the introduction of multiple Fe centers and Cu replacement, which resulted in a NiTe2/NF@CuFe catalyst that exhibited excellent OER performance. The thus-prepared catalyst showed a low overpotential of 228 mV and a Tafel slope of 33 mV dec–1 at 10 mA cm–2 in 1 M KOH as the electrolyte. The catalyst is remarkably stable compared to the reference catalyst during electrocatalytic oxygen evolution over 12 h. Density function theory calculations confirmed that the Cu atoms not only facilitate neighboring charge-transfer processes but also build isolated areas of NiTe2 nanoparticles. Net charges and the electron localization function reveal that the well-distributed doped Fe atoms significantly stabilize the NiTe2 nanoparticles on the surface and improve its electronic activity during the OER process. This work provides an effective concept for the synthesis of highly efficient overall water-splitting electrocatalysts.

The use of transition metal oxides is a promising strategy for accelerating the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in zinc–air batteries. Herein, we propose a facile and cost-effective strategy to synthesize a ZrO2/doped-N carbon (ZrO2/NC) catalyst with high N and Zr contents (8.78 and 4.4 atom%, respectively). The ZrO2/NC catalyst exhibits comparable electrocatalytic activity with a half-wave potential of 0.815 V and better durability in the ORR compared to the commercial Pt/C catalyst. The ORR proceeds via a 4e− transfer pathway under alkaline conditions in the presence of this catalyst. The excellent catalytic performance is attributed to the high densities of the active sites, namely, pyridinic-N, graphitic-N, and Zr. The high Brunner–Emmett–Teller surface area (787.4 m2/g) and an amorphous-crystal morphology of the ZrO2/NC catalyst favored the rapid mass transfer and exposed the active sites of the electrolyte and reactants. The strategy presented herein can be used for the large-scale production of metal–air batteries.