Lattice Oxygen Activation for Enhanced Electrochemical Oxygen Evolution

Lattice oxygen redox of solid-state material hosts is an emerging observation in electrochemistry. Toward the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water electrolysis with sluggish kinetics, the activation of lattice oxygen alters the reaction mechanism profoundly, either facilitating the nucleophilic attack of O-O coupling in the conventional adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM) or directly triggering the participation of lattice oxygen into gaseous O2 generation via the lattice oxygen-mediated mechanism (LOM). In-depth understanding at the molecular level further provides the research community with fundamental guidelines for advanced OER catalyst design. Herein, we present the physicochemical principles of correlation between the band alignment and the preferential OER mechanism. The recent progress about the key roles of lattice oxygen activation in OER activity improvement is then comprehensively discussed. Finally, we propose the remaining challenges and future perspectives of lattice oxygen activation for the potential advancements in electrocatalysis.

Automated summary

Lattice oxygen redox in solid-state material hosts is an emerging observation in electrochemistry. Activation of lattice oxygen in water electrolysis can significantly enhance the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics, either by facilitating the nucleophilic attack of O-O coupling or through direct participation of lattice oxygen in gaseous O2 generation. Understanding the molecular-level mechanisms provides fundamental guidelines for advanced OER catalyst design. This review comprehensively discusses the correlation between band alignments and preferential OER mechanisms, recent progress in lattice oxygen activation, and remaining challenges and future prospects for electrocatalysis advancements.