Isolating the Electrocatalytic Activity of a Confined NiFe Motif within Zirconium Phosphate

Unique classes of active-site motifs are needed for improved electrocatalysis. Herein, the activity a new catalyst motif is engineered and isolated oxygen evolution reaction (OER) created by nickel–iron transition metal electrocatalysts confined within layered zirconium phosphate matrix. It found that with optimal intercalation, NiFe catalysts have an order magnitude mass compared to more conventional surface-adsorbed systems in 0.1 m KOH. Interestingly, environments structure also stabilize Fe-rich compositions (90%) exceptional known OER catalysts. Through controls grafting inert molecules outer surface, it evidenced intercalated Ni/Fe species stay interlayer during catalysis serve as active site. After determining possible (wycherproofite), density functional theory shown correlate observed experimental compositional trends. further demonstrated this correlated Fe water content/composition space. This work highlights catalytic enhancement possibilities available through isolates from versus surface/edge ones, thus opening avenues develop understand unique nanoscale chemical environments.