Switchable metal and oxygen redox chemistry for highly-efficient oxygen evolution reaction

The sluggish electron transfer process in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) greatly restrict the large-scale application of water electrolysis for hydrogen generation. The modification of the electronic states around the Fermi level of the electrocatalysts is significant for accelerating the sluggish OER kinetics. So far, the OER kinetics solely involve either an adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM), or a lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism (LOM). In a paper recently published in Nature, Xue and coworkers report an electron transfer mechanism that involves a switchable AEM and LOM in nickel-oxyhydroxide-based materials triggered by the light [1]. In contrast with previously reported electrocatalysts, the electrocatalyst proceeding through this mechanism shows a better OER activity. Hence, the reported light-triggered mechanism that couples AEM and LOM pioneers an innovative pathway towards the exploration of OER kinetics.