Natural superoxide dismutase inspired Heterostructural N, S-Codoped CoFe₂O₄/MoC Electrocatalyst for highly efficient water splitting

Current research on heterojunctions as catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) primarily emphasizes the electron transfer processes at the heterojunction interface. However, the regulatory role of doped elements within heterostructures remains inadequately explored, despite its significant scientific implications for the advancement of efficient catalysts. Inspired by the catalytic superoxide dismutation reaction of superoxide dismutase (SOD) observed in nature, this study presents a novel heterostructural N and S co-doped CoFe₂O₄/MoC electrocatalyst. The incorporation of N and S induces a distinctive ‘electron-dragging’ effect within the CoFe₂O₄/MoC heterostructural system, selectively modulating the reception and release of electrons during HER and OER processes, thereby ensuring an optimal electron density at various active sites. The designed N, S-CoFe₂O₄/MoC-NS electrocatalyst achieves a total hydrolysis current density of 100 mA cm⁻² at a potential as low as 1.47 V and maintains stable output for 300 h without degradation. Theoretical calculations and in-situ Raman spectroscopy suggest that the formation of the heterostructure and the ‘electron-dragging ‘effect are crucial in regulating different active sites, providing new insights into the balance between catalyst activity and stability.