context: The non-renewability of fossil energy and growing environmental pollution have spurred the development of sustainable energy technologies, such as fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Of these, zinc–air batteries represent a promising energy technology for next-generation portable electronics, due to their good rechargeability and high theoretical density (1370 W h kg−1), where the device performance is largely dictated by the reversible catalysts at the cathode for oxygen reduction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER). Platinum-based nanoparticles have been the catalysts of choice for ORR, whereas Ir and Ru-based nanoparticles for OER. Yet their high costs and low natural abundance have hindered the practical applications of the technology. Thus, development of low-cost and high-performance electrocatalysts for ORR and OER have been attracting extensive interest. Recent reports have shown that atomically dispersed metals (such as Mn, Fe and Co) within nitrogen-doped carbons, exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance towards ORR and may even surpass the corresponding nanoparticle counterparts. In both experimental and theoretical studies, Fe single atom catalysts (SACs) have been recognized as the most active catalysts towards ORR in alkaline media. Unfortunately, for the Fe-based SACs, Fenton reaction involving the Fe center and ORR byproduct H2O2 produces hydroxyl and oxygen radicals, which not only affect the durability of the catalysts by changing its chemical structure, but also damage the battery devices by corroding the ion membranes. Additionally, theoretical and experimental studies have shown that the Fe-based SACs performs poorly towards OER, as compared to other 3d transition metals, such as Co and Ni. Therefore, it is critical to improve the ORR durability and OER activity of Fe SACs such that they may be used as bifunctional oxygen catalysts in rechargeable Zn–air battery. Towards this end, the incorporation of Co atomic sites into Fe SACs represents a unique strategy. First of all, the weak Fenton activity between Co and H2O2 is anticipated to markedly enhance the ORR stability of Fe SACs. In addition, prior studies have shown that Co-doped carbon exhibits a low overpotential and small Tafel slope towards OER. Thus, it is envisioned that atomically dispersing Co atoms into Fe-doped carbon may achieve a bimetal catalyst with excellent ORR/OER activity and enhanced durability, in comparison to the monometal counterparts.