Controllable construction of CoP nanoparticles anchored on a nitrogen-doped porous carbon as an electrocatalyst for highly efficient oxygen reduction in Zn-air batteries

• CoP nanoparticles anchored on nitrogen-doped porous carbon (CoP@NC) were synthesized via phosphating, retaining the dodecahedral structure of Co NPs. • The CoP@NC electrocatalyst exhibits remarkable ORR activity with a half-wave potential of 0.92 V in alkaline media. • Zinc-air batteries using CoP@NC as cathode achieve a high open-circuit voltage of 1.51 V and power density of 210.1 mW cm−2. • The synergistic coupling between CoP nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped carbon, along with efficient mass transport in the porous structure, enhances catalytic performance.