RuO<sub>2</sub> electronic structure and lattice strain dual engineering for enhanced acidic oxygen evolution reaction performance.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35778401.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-31468-0 and PMC identifier 9249734.
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Abstract
Developing highly active and durable electrocatalysts for acidic oxygen evolution reaction remains a great challenge due to the sluggish kinetics of the four-electron transfer reaction and severe catalyst dissolution. Here we report an electrochemical lithium intercalation method to improve both the activity and stability of RuO<sub>2</sub> for acidic oxygen evolution reaction. The lithium intercalates into the lattice interstices of RuO<sub>2</sub>, donates electrons and distorts the local structure. Therefore, the Ru valence state is lowered with formation of stable Li-O-Ru local structure, and the Ru-O covalency is weakened, which suppresses the dissolution of Ru, resulting in greatly enhanced durability. Meanwhile, the inherent lattice strain results in the surface structural distortion of Li<sub>x</sub>RuO<sub>2</sub> and activates the dangling O atom near the Ru active site as a proton acceptor, which stabilizes the OOH* and dramatically enhances the activity. This work provides an effective strategy to develop highly efficient catalyst towards water splitting.