Regulating Reconstruction Activity of Cobalt Electrode for Optimized Water Oxidation
Elucidating and regulating dynamic catalyst reconstruction are crucial for various electrocatalytic reactions. Here, we applied model fittings with operando characterizations to quantify the reconstruction activity (i.e., ability to reconstruct) of layered Co(OH)2 toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). By modulating the intercalation species into Co(OH)2, we governed distinct reconstruction thermodynamics and kinetics, with diverse mass changes and heterogeneous Co oxidation during the OER. We further established a volcano-type relationship between reconstruction activity and OER activity and identified that a moderate reconstruction activity, achieved by dual-anion intercalation, favored a high OER activity. This might result from its proper basal spacing that regulated the coupled ion (de)intercalation–electron transfer for reconstruction, leading to optimal Co for binding OER intermediates. The optimally reconstructed Co(OH)1.26Cl0.08(CO3)0.33·0.84 H2O delivered 1 A cm–2 at 1.78 V for anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis. This work laid the foundation for modulating reconstruction activities to benefit electrocatalysis.
Authors
- Ruoqi Liu
- Shu‐Chih Haw (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9529-8204)
- Ting‐Shan Chan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5220-1611)
- Yunze Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8983-9739)
- Tong Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1077-5101)
- Miao Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9483-6877)
- Siyuan Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7380-7169)
- Ziyi Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8903-7747)
- Jian Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6800-0467)
- Hao Fei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9588-5689)
- Hongsheng Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6487-6309)
- Chang-Feng Yan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7096-1761)
- Yan Shi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8517-0767)
Institutions
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK)
- City University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- University of Saskatchewan (CA)
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (TW)
- City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute (CN)
- Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion (CN)
- Canadian Light Source (Canada) (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Energy Letters
- Published
- 2024-10-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.4c02344
- Citations
- 18
- Primary Topic
- Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.84
Funders
- City University of Hong Kong
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee
- Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province
- Guangdong Science and Technology Department