Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2024, Vol. 66: 195-211.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(24)60140-3

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Manipulating the spin configuration by topochemical transformation for optimized intermediates adsorption ability in oxygen evolution reaction

Jinchang Xua,b,1, Yongqi Jiana,1, Guang-Qiang Yua, Wanli Lianga, Junmin Zhua, Muzi Yangc, Jian Chenc, Fangyan Xiec, Yanshuo Jina, Nan Wanga,*(), Xi-Bo Lia,*(), Hui Menga,*()   

  1. aSiyuan laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
    bGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Terahertz Quantum Electromagnetics, GBA Branch of Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510700, Guangdong, China
    cInstrumental Analysis & Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2024-06-30 Accepted:2024-09-03 Online:2024-11-18 Published:2024-11-10
  • Contact: *E-mail: nanwang@email.jnu.edu.cn (N. Wang),lixibo@jnu.edu.cn (X.-B. Li),tmh@jnu.edu.cn (H. Meng).
  • About author:1Contributed equally to this work.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(22478151);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22209056);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22075102);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22005120);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21576301);National Natural Science Foundation of China(51973244);National Natural Science Foundation of China(12174154);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21703081);Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2023A1515010270);Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2023A1515010921);Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China(2021A1515010090);Postdoctoral Research Foundation of China(2020M673071);National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for Undergraduate and the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangzhou, China(201605030008);National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for Undergraduate and the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangzhou, China(202102020963)

Abstract:

The underlying spin-related mechanism remains unclear, and the rational manipulation of spin states is challenging due to various spin configurations under different coordination conditions. Therefore, it is urgent to study spin-dependent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance through a controllable method. Herein, we adopt a topochemical reaction method to synthesize a series of selenides with eg occupancies ranging from 1.67 to 1.37. The process begins with monoclinic-CoSeO3, featuring a distinct laminar structure and Co-O6 coordination. The topochemical reaction induces significant changes in the crystal field's intensity, leading to spin state transitions. These transitions are driven by topological changes from a Co-O-Se-O-Co to a Co-Se-Co configuration, strengthening the crystalline field and reducing eg orbital occupancy. This reconfiguration of spin states shifts the rate-determining step from desorption to adsorption for both OER and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), reducing the potential-determined step barrier and enhancing overall catalytic efficiency. As a result, the synthesized cobalt selenide exhibits significantly enhanced adsorption capabilities. The material demonstrates impressive overpotentials of 35 mV for HER, 250 mV for OER, and 270 mV for overall water splitting, indicating superior catalytic activity and efficiency. Additionally, a negative relation between eg filling and OER catalytic performance confirms the spin-dependent nature of OER. Our findings provide crucial insights into the role of spin state transitions in catalytic performance.

Key words: Spin state configuration, eg orbital occupancy, Intermediates adsorption, Topochemical transformation, Overall water splitting