“Highway” Toward Efficient Water Oxidation

Rational design of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is vital for efficient water splitting owing to the sluggish kinetics anodic reaction. In this issue, Wang et al. shed light on an anion-etching approach accelerate rapid formation high active species surface pre-catalysts during OER, yet opening up a whole new avenue construct high-performance catalysts electrolyers and other important industrial processes. With ever-growing concerns over energy environment challenges associated with global climate change, clean conversion technologies (e.g., electrolyzers, rechargeable fuel cells, metal-air batteries) have attracted intensive attention.1Nong H.N. Falling L.J. Bergmann A. Klingenhof M. Tran H.P. Spöri C. Mom R. Timoshenko J. Zichittella G. Knop-Gericke al.Key role chemistry versus bias in electrocatalytic evolution.Nature. 2020; 587: 408-413Crossref Scopus (98) Google Scholar, 2Song Wei Huang Z.F. Liu Zeng L. X. Xu Z.J. A review fundamentals designing electrocatalysts.Chem. Soc. Rev. 49: 2196-2214Crossref Scholar However, low efficiency caused from large overpotential seriously limits their practical applications. past decades, various strategies including heteroatoms doping, structural control, hybrid been developed reduce barrier OER catalysts.3Wang Y. Zhu Zhao S. She Zhang F. Chen Williams T. Gengenbach Zu Mao H. al.Anion Etching Accessing Rapid Deep Self-Reconstruction Precatalysts Water Oxidation.Matter. 3 (this issue): 182-194Abstract Full Text PDF (49) 4Seh Z.W. Kibsgaard Dickens C.F. Chorkendorff I. Nørskov J.K. Jaramillo T.F. Combining theory experiment electrocatalysis: Insights into materials design.Science. 2017; 355: eaad4998Crossref PubMed (3913) Unfortunately, currently reported still cannot tackle requirements process utilization, durability, cost. paper, author Fudan University proposed anion-etching-induced SELFRECON strategy pre-activate sites pristine catalysts.5Suen N.T. Hung S.F. Quan Q. N. Y.J. H.M. Electrocatalysis reaction: recent development future perspectives.Chem. 46: 337-365Crossref Briefly, uniform core-shell nanowires, composed NiFe/NiFeOx nanoparticles anchored NiMoO4, was synthesized by facile Prussian blue analog (PBA)-based ion-exchange method followed low-temperature annealing. The unique structure facilitates etching MoO42? NiMoO4 cores incorporation Fe Ni-(oxy)hydroxide shells, accelerating (NiFe-(oxy)hydroxide). Impressively, reconstructed exhibit remarkable catalytic performance, requiring overpotentials only 270 290 mV obtain 50 100 mA cm?2, respectively, negligible degradation after 24 h electrolysis at cm?2 as illustrated Figure 1. deformation catalyst catalysis common phenomenon, which could lead gradual change catalyzing performance.6Liu Meng Ni K. Guo Xia Xie Li Wen B. Wu P. al.Complete Reconstruction Hydrate Pre-Catalysts Ultrastable Electrolysis Industrial-Concentration Alkali Media.Cell Reports Phys. Sci. 1: 100241Abstract (30) NiFe-(oxy)hydroxide confirmed outstanding also prone reaction.7Dionigi Strasser NiFe-Based (Oxy)hydroxide Catalysts Oxygen Evolution Reaction Non-Acidic Electrolytes.Adv. Energy Mater. 2016; 6: 1600621Crossref (486) Scholar,8Gong Dai mini NiFe-based highly electrocatalysts.Nano Res. 2014; 8: 23-39Crossref (920) Yet, very few papers focused well performance aroused such. To explore essence between transformation enhanced activity, operando situ Raman spectroelectrochemistry controlled potentials employed. correlation local chemical simultaneously generated current reveal that formed abundant defects genuine origin oxygen-evolving activity. Moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis higher oxidation dominating OER. Further, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images present morphology post-reacted samples, suggesting maintains. Overall, put forward paper enlighten systems, such carbon dioxide reduction nitrogen reaction, both proceed under certain potential electrolytic surroundings. mechanism help explain catalyst’s would decipher most its site. Anion OxidationWang al.MatterOctober 9, 2020In BriefRapid deep self-reconstruction (SELF-RECON) achieved through rational precatalyst. obtained nanowired precatalyst ([email protected]) consists (core) N-doped carbons (shell). SELF-RECON facilitated dissolution core [email protected] fast NiOOH simultaneously, monitored demonstrated experiments. SELF-RECONCAT outperforms protected], ultralow extraordinary long-term stability. Full-Text Open Archive