Redirecting dynamic surface restructuring of a layered transition metal oxide catalyst for superior water oxidation
Published in Nature Catalysis, 2021
Recommended citation: Jian Wang*, Se-Jun Kim, Jiapeng Liu, Yang Gao, Subin Choi, Jeongwoo Han, Hyeyoung Shin, Sugeun Jo, Juwon Kim, Francesco Ciucci, Hwiho Kim, Qingtian Li, Wanli Yang, Xia Long, Shihe Yang*, Sung-Pyo Cho, Keun Hwa Chae, Min Gyu Kim, Hyungjun Kim*, Jongwoo Lim*. (2021). "Redirecting dynamic surface restructuring of a layered transition metal oxide catalyst for superior water oxidation." Nature Catalysis, 4(3), 212-222. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41929-021-00578-1
Rationally manipulating the in situ formed catalytically active surface of catalysts remains a tremendous challenge for a highly efficient water electrolysis. Here we present a cationic redox-tuning method to modulate in situ catalyst leaching and to redirect the dynamic surface restructuring of layered LiCoO2–xClx (x = 0, 0.1 or 0.2), for the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Chlorine doping lowered the potential to trigger in situ cobalt oxidation and lithium leaching, which induced the surface of LiCoO1.8Cl0.2 to transform into a self-terminated amorphous (oxy)hydroxide phase during the OER. In contrast, Cl-free LiCoO2 required higher electrochemical potentials to initiate the in situ surface reconstruction to spinel-type Li1±xCo2O4 and longer cycles to stabilize it. Surface-restructured LiCoO1.8Cl0.2 outperformed many state-of-the-art OER catalysts and demonstrated remarkable stability. This work makes a stride in modulating surface restructuring and in designing superior OER electrocatalysts via manipulating the in situ catalyst leaching.
Recommended citation: Wang, J., Kim, S.-J., Liu, J., Gao, Y., Choi, S., Han, J., Shin, H., Jo, S., Kim, J., Ciucci, F., … Lim, J., 2021. Redirecting dynamic surface restructuring of a layered transition metal oxide catalyst for superior water oxidation. Nature Catalysis, 4(3), 212-222.