Out-of-plane coordination of iridium single atoms with organic molecules and cobalt–iron hydroxides to boost oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract Advancements in single-atom-based catalysts are crucial for enhancing oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance while reducing precious metal usage. A comprehensive understanding of underlying mechanisms will expedite this progress further. Here we report Ir single atoms coordinated out-of-plane with dimethylimidazole (MI) on CoFe hydroxide (Ir 1 /(Co,Fe)-OH/MI). This Ir 1 /(Co,Fe)-OH/MI catalyst, which was prepared using a simple immersion method, delivers ultralow overpotentials of 179 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 and 257 mV at 600 mA cm −2 as well as an ultra-small Tafel slope of 24 mV dec −1 . Furthermore, Ir 1 /(Co,Fe)-OH/MI has a total mass activity exceeding that of commercial IrO 2…

• CU
  City University of Hong Kong
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 52003163, 22105129, 22369020, 2022A1515011048, 52373266
• CP
  China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

  Award: 2023M732352
• HK
  Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  Award: HZQB-KCZYB-2020083
• SU
  Southeast University
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Award: 2242024K40008
• BA
  Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province

  Awards: 2022A1515010670, 2024A1515012334, 2022A1515011048
• NS
  National Supercomputing Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information