Switching the Oxygen Evolution Mechanism on Atomically Dispersed Ru for Enhanced Acidic Reaction Kinetics

Designing stable single-atom electrocatalysts with lower energy barriers is urgent for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction. In particular, the atomic catalysts are highly dependent on the kinetically sluggish acid–base mechanism, limiting the reaction paths of intermediates. Herein, we successfully manipulate the steric localization of Ru single atoms at the Co3O4 surface to improve acidic oxygen evolution by precise control of the anchor sites. The delicate structure design can switch the reaction mechanism from the lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM) to the optimized adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM). In particular, Ru atoms embedded into cation vacancies reveal an optimized mechanism that activates the proton…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 22075141, 22101132
• CP
  China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

  Awards: 2021T140319, 2021M691561
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province

  Awards: BK20221482, BK20210311
• SK
  State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials

  Award: KF2312
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Award: NS2023032