Designing of Highly Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts Utilizing A Correlation Factor: Theory and Experiment

The theoretical prediction of the catalytic activity is very beneficial for the design of highly efficient catalysts. At present, most theoretical descriptors focus on estimating the catalytic activity and understanding the enhancement mechanism of catalysts, while it is also quite important to find a factor to correlate the descriptors with preparation methods. In this work, a correlation factor, the d electron density of transition metal ions, was developed to correlate the d band center values of transition metal ions with the preparation methods of amorphization and Al introduction. According to the results of theoretical simulations, the correlation factor not only exhibited favorable linear relationships with the theoretical overpotentials of (CoFeAlx)(3)O-4 and (CoFeAlx)(3)O-4 + (CoFeAlx)OOH systems but also correlated with two preparation methods by altering the volume of systems. Based on theoretical guidance, the electrocatalytic activities of the prepared (CoFeAlx)(3)O-4 specimens were gradually improved by the preparation methods of amorphization and Al introduction, and the Am-CoFeAl-2-10h specimen exhibited a low kinetic barrier of 268 mV, fast charge transfer rate, and stable electrocatalytic activity. This strategy could be applied to design highly efficient catalysts by adjusting the correlation factor of the active site with suitable preparation methods.

Automated summary

The correlation factor of d electron density of transition metal ions was developed to correlate with preparation methods in order to improve the electrocatalytic activities of (CoFeAlx)3O4 specimens. This strategy showed favorable linear relationships with theoretical overpotentials and altered the volume of systems, leading to improved catalytic activities. Adjusting the correlation factor with suitable preparation methods could be applied to design highly efficient catalysts.