Fluorination propels Fe–N–C fuel cells to new heights

In the June issue of ACS Energy Letters, Xing and co-workers report a fluorine-coordination strategy that modulates both the atomic coordination environments and macroscopic hydrophobicity of iron–nitrogen–carbon (Fe–N–C) fuel cell catalysts. This approach simultaneously enhances intrinsic activity, stability, and water management, marking a critical advancement toward affordable, high-performance, and durable proton-exchange membrane fuel cells.