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Anodic Oxidation Enabled Cation Leaching for Promoting Surface Reconstruction in Water Oxidation
Author(s) -
Duan Yan,
Lee Jun Yan,
Xi Shibo,
Sun Yuanmiao,
Ge Jingjie,
Ong Samuel Jun Hoong,
Chen Yubo,
Dou Shuo,
Meng Fanxu,
Diao Caozheng,
Fisher Adrian C.,
Wang Xin,
Scherer Günther G.,
Grimaud Alexis,
Xu Zhichuan J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202015060
Subject(s) - oxygen evolution , leaching (pedology) , electrolysis of water , catalysis , spinel , electrolysis , oxygen , anode , electron transfer , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , materials science , chemical engineering , photochemistry , electrochemistry , electrode , metallurgy , geology , electrolyte , organic chemistry , soil science , engineering , soil water , biochemistry
A rational design for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts is pivotal to the overall efficiency of water electrolysis. Much work has been devoted to understanding cation leaching and surface reconstruction of very active electrocatalysts, but little on intentionally promoting the surface in a controlled fashion. We now report controllable anodic leaching of Cr in CoCr 2 O 4 by activating the pristine material at high potential, which enables the transformation of inactive spinel CoCr 2 O 4 into a highly active catalyst. The depletion of Cr and consumption of lattice oxygen facilitate surface defects and oxygen vacancies, exposing Co species to reconstruct into active Co oxyhydroxides differ from CoOOH. A novel mechanism with the evolution of tetrahedrally coordinated surface cation into octahedral configuration via non‐concerted proton‐electron transfer is proposed. This work shows the importance of controlled anodic potential in modifying the surface chemistry of electrocatalysts.