Synergistic Pt-Mo pair sites on molybdenum carbides for bionic and portable oxygen production

Oxygen (O₂) is utilized in various applications, including medical use, industrial manufacturing, tunnel construction, and scientific research, serving as an important resource for essential technologies and life support systems. However, current O₂ generation methods are complex, dependent on heavy equipment and considerable power, and exhibit limited adaptability to harsh environments. Here, to address this challenge, we propose the de novo design of single-atomic Pt lattice-doped molybdenum carbide catalysts with synergistic Pt-Mo pair sites (Pt-Mo@MoC_x) to serve as bioinspired O₂-evolution catalysts for cost-effective, portable, and environmentally friendly O₂ generation. Our experimental and theoretical studies indicate that Mo coordination enhances the electron density at the Pt active site, increasing its interaction with oxygen species and thereby reducing the activation energy of the O₂ evolution reaction. Accordingly, the prepared Pt-Mo@MoC_x catalysts demonstrate high efficiency and durability in O₂ generation, achieving a turnover number of 18.92 s⁻¹, which exceeds the performance of state-of-the-art H₂O₂-catalytic materials reported in the literature. We believe that this bioinspired and portable technology, which does not rely on traditional electrical energy, will provide a reliable solution for O₂ applications in areas with limited O₂ availability and in emergency situations such as power outages.