Developing　efficient　and　durable　bifunctional　air–cathode　catalysts　for　both　oxygen　reduction　reaction　(ORR)　and　oxygen　evolution　reaction　(OER)　is　one　of　the　key　efforts　promoting　the　practical　rechargeable　zinc-air　batteries　(ZABs).　In　this　paper,　high-performance　bifunctional　air–cathode　catalysts　by　a　two-step　strategy:　atomically　dispersed　Ni　on　N-doped　carbon　is　first　derived　from　MOF　to　form　uniformly　dispersed　NiNC,　which　are　pyrolyzed　together　with　Fe　source　at　different　high-temperatures　to　form　FeNi@NC-T　(T　=　800,　900,　and　1000　°C)　catalysts.　The　as-synthesized　non-noble　metal　FeNi@NC-900　catalyst　exhibits　a　considerably　small　potential　gap　(ΔE)　of　0.72　V　between　ORR　and　OER,　which　is　as　the　same　as　commercial　noble　metal　Pt/C　+　Ir　black　mixed　catalyst.　The　performance　of　the　ZABs　using　FeNi@NC-900　as　the　air–cathode　catalyst　displays　a　power　density　of　119　mW·cm−2　and　a　specific　capacity　of　830.1　mAh·g−1,　which　is　superior　to　that　of　Pt/C　+　Ir　black　mixed　catalyst.　This　work　provides　a　guideline　for　designing　alloy　electrocatalysts　with　uniform　size　and　nanoparticle　distribution　for　metal-air　batteries　with　bifunctional　air-cathodes.　©　2023　Elsevier　Inc.