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Active Electron Density Modulation of Co 3 O 4 ‐Based Catalysts Enhances their Oxygen Evolution Performance
Author(s) -
He Dong,
Song Xianyin,
Li Wenqing,
Tang Chongyang,
Liu Jiangchao,
Ke Zunjian,
Jiang Changzhong,
Xiao Xiangheng
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202001681
Subject(s) - overpotential , tafel equation , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , catalysis , oxygen evolution , density functional theory , chemistry , electron transfer , materials science , analytical chemistry (journal) , electrode , computational chemistry , nuclear magnetic resonance , physics , electrochemistry , biochemistry , chromatography
Abstract Despite the fact that many strategies have been developed to improve the efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the precise modulation of the surface electronic properties of catalysts to improve their catalytic activity is still challenging. Herein, we demonstrate that the surface active electron density of Co 3 O 4 can be effectively regulated by an argon‐ion irradiation method. X‐ray photoelectron and synchrotron x‐ray absorption spectroscopy, UV photoelectron spectrometry, and DFT calculations show that the surface active electron density band center of Co 3 O 4 has been upshifted, leading to a significantly enhanced absorption capability of the oxo group. The optimized Co 3 O 4 ‐based catalysts exhibit an excellent overpotential of 260 mV at 10 mA cm −2 and Tafel slope of 54 mV dec −1 , superior to the capability of the benchmark RuO 2 , representing one of the best Co‐based OER catalysts. This approach could guide the future rational design and discovery of ideal electrocatalysts.