The design and fabrication of low-cost catalysts for highly efficient oxygen reduction are of paramount importance for various renewable energy-related technologies, such as fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Herein, we report the synthesis of Fe₃N nanoparticle-encapsulated N-doped carbon nanotubes on the surface of a flexible biomass-derived carbon cloth (Fe₃N@CNTs/CC) via a simple one-step carbonization process. Taking advantage of its unique structure, Fe₃N@CNTs/CC was employed as a self-standing electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and possessed high activity as well as excellent long-term stability and methanol resistance in alkaline media. Remarkably, Fe₃N@CNT/CC can directly play the role of both a gas diffusion layer and an electrocatalytic cathode in a zinc–air battery without additional means of catalyst loading, and it displays higher open-circuit voltage, power density, and specific capacity in comparison with a commercial Pt/C catalyst. This work is anticipated to inspire the design of cost-effective, easily prepared, and high-performance air electrodes for advanced electrochemical applications.

The hydrogen economy, as an emerging paradigm for sustainable energy, relies on efficient hydrogen oxidation (HOR) and hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). These reactions require effective catalysts to enhance reaction kinetics and reduce costs. Platinum (Pt) is widely used but faces issues such as high cost and CO poisoning. Non-precious metal catalysts, particularly Ni-based alloys, are being explored as viable alternatives. This study introduces a ternary MoWNi alloy catalyst synthesized via microwave-assisted methods and annealing. The MoWNi alloy catalyst achieves a current density of 3.5 mA·cm⁻² at an overpotential of 100 mV in HOR and requires only 25 mV overpotential to reach a current density of 10 mA·cm⁻² in HER, making it comparable to commercial 20% Pt/C catalysts. Notably, the catalyst also exhibits superior stability and resistance to CO toxicity. These findings underscore the potential of MoWNi alloy catalysts in advancing hydrogen-based energy systems.