Coupling nano and atomic electric field confinement for robust alkaline oxygen evolution

Abstract

The alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a promising avenue for producing clean fuels and storing intermittent energy. However, challenges such as excessive OH– consumption and strong adsorption of oxygen‐containing intermediates hinder the development of alkaline OER. In this study, we propose a cooperative strategy by leveraging both nano‐scale and atomically local electric fields for alkaline OER, demonstrated through the synthesis of Mn single atom doped CoP nanoneedles (Mn SA‐CoP NNs). Finite element method simulations and density functional theory calculations predict that the nano‐scale local electric field enriches OH‐ around the catalyst surface, while the atomically local electric field improves *O desorption. Experimental validation using in situ attenuated total reflection infrared and Raman spectroscopy confirms the effectiveness of the nano‐scale and atomically electric fields. Mn SA‐CoP NNs exhibit an ultra‐low overpotential of 189 mV at 10 mA cm–2 and stable operation over 100 hours at ~100 mA cm–2 during alkaline OER. This innovative strategy provides new insights for enhancing catalyst performance in energy conversion reactions.