Enhancing Catalysis through Substitute-Driven Redox Tuning

Abstract

Electrocatalysts enable many energy conversion and storage technologies. Tuning the electronic structure of electrocatalytic transition metal oxides and complexes by introducing substitute metals—which possess a different electronegativity than the parent metals—presents a rational strategy for enhancing performance. Kuznetsov et al. show a unifying concept regarding how the inductive effects of substitute metals alter the molecular orbital structure of transition metal oxides and complexes. Such tuning leads to increased battery capacity and higher catalytic activity.