Boosting electrochemical water oxidation through replacement of Oh Co sites in cobalt oxide spinel with manganese

The strikingly high catalytic performance and stability of manganese substituted cobalt oxide spinel (MnxCo3-xO4) over pristine cobalt oxide spinel (Co3O4) for the alkaline electrochemical water oxidation is reported. The different role of cations could be uncovered along with the detection of drastic surface-structural changes during the catalysis using spectroscopic and microscopic methods.