Modulating the Oxygen Evolution Reaction of Single-Crystal Cobalt Carbonate Hydroxide via Surface Fe Doping and Facet Dependence
The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical half-reaction in water splitting and metal-air cells. The sensitivity of the OER to the composition and structure of the electrocatalyst presents a significant challenge in elucidating the structure-property relationship. In this study, highly stable single-crystal cobalt carbonate hydroxide [Co<sub>2</sub>(OH)<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>, CoCH] was used as a model to investigate the correlations among structure, composition, and reactivity. Single-crystal CoCH nanowires (denoted as CoCH NWs) and Fe-doped CoCH nanowires (denoted as Fe-CoCH NWs) with an exposed (210) facet and Fe-doped CoCH nanosheets (denoted as Fe-CoCH NSs) with an exposed (2-13) facet were synthesized using electrochemical and one-step hydrothermal strategies, respectively. Their OER activity decreased in the following order: Fe-CoCH NWs > Fe-CoCH NSs > CoCH NWs. Theoretical investigation suggested that the doped Fe sites serve as active sites, and the crystal-facet dependence can finely adjust the 3d configuration of Fe sites, resulting in the optimal adsorption strengths and energy barriers for potential-determining steps on the (210) facet of CoCH. This renders the as-prepared Fe-CoCH NWs as some of the most promising Co-based OER catalysts.
Authors
- Shenghua Ye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3297-674X)
- Lirong Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0888-6769)
- Wenda Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6827-9226)
- Xueqing Yan
- Xiaoping Ouyang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9443-1084)
- Yuanguo Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7186-4795)
- Qianling Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6942-3958)
- Yongliang Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5008-0868)
- Weibin Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1514-4149)
- D. Xiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4319-1305)
- Shuyuan Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4203-5103)
- Xiangzhong Ren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3185-2703)
- Zhi‐Jun Ou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9138-2966)
- Jianhong Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2010-6901)
- Jie Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2183-1016)
Institutions
- Shenzhen University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Peking University (CN)
- Institute of High Energy Physics (CN)
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology
- Xiangtan University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
- Published
- 2025-01-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c03018
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.82
Funders
- Science and Technology Foundation of Shenzhen City
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province
- Shenzhen University
- Department of Education of Guangdong Province
- Shenzhen Technical Project