Iridium single atoms incorporated in Co3O4 efficiently catalyze the oxygen evolution in acidic conditions

Abstract Designing active and stable electrocatalysts with economic efficiency for acidic oxygen evolution reaction is essential for developing proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers. Herein, we report on a cobalt oxide incorporated with iridium single atoms (Ir-Co 3 O 4 ), prepared by a mechanochemical approach. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals that Ir atoms are partially oxidized to active Ir >4+ during the reaction, meanwhile Ir and Co atoms with their bridged electrophilic O ligands acting as active sites, are jointly responsible for the enhanced performance. Theoretical calculations further disclose the isolated Ir atoms can effectively boost the electronic conductivity and optimize…

• WF
  Welch Foundation

  Award: F-1841
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Award: STR 596/11-1
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 22179098
• BF
  Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
• PU
  Pohang University of Science and Technology
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities