Identification of in situ Generated Iron‐Vacancy Induced Oxygen Evolution Reaction Kinetics on Cobalt Iron Oxyhydroxide†

Abstract

Comprehensive SummaryDeveloping highly efficient and low‐cost electrocatalysts towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for practical application in water electrolyzers and rechargeable metal‐air batteries. Although Fe‐based oxyhydroxides are regarded as state‐of‐the‐art non‐noble OER electrocatalysts, the origin of performance enhancement derived from Fe doping remains a hot topic of considerable discussion. Herein, we demonstrate that in situ generated Fe vacancies in the pristine CoFeOOH catalyst through a pre‐conversion process during alkaline OER result from dynamic Fe dissolution, identifying the origin of Fe‐vacancy‐induced enhanced OER kinetics. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental results including X‐ray absorption fine‐structure spectroscopy, in situ UV‐Vis spectroscopy, and in situ Raman spectroscopy reveal that the Fe vacancies could significantly promote the d‐band center and valence states of adjacent Co sites, alter the active site from Fe atom to Co atom, accelerate the formation of high‐valent active Co4+ species, and reduce the energy barrier of the potential‐determining step, thereby contribute to the significantly enhanced OER performance.