Corrosion-Regulated Surface Reconstruction for High-Performance Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts
Zhiquan Lang, Zechao Zhuang, Guang‐Ling Song, Longfei Guo, Shuhao Wang, Xingpeng Liao, Pengpeng Wu, Yaxi Li, Yunliang Liu, Naiyun Liu, Yixing Zhu, Dingsheng Wang, Chuan Zhao, Haitao Li
Abstract
Surface reconstruction is a common phenomenon during electrode processes, occurring on the surface of electrocatalysts. While corrosion-engineering approaches show promise in this reconstruction, the precise control of surface reaction kinetics remains a significant challenge. In this work, a corrosion kinetics-controlled strategy using a hypophosphite corrosion inhibitor was proposed to achieve a uniform nickel–iron oxyhydroxide (p-(Fe,Ni)OOH) layer through controlled corrosion-induced reconstruction. This p-(Fe,Ni)OOH electrocatalyst shows excellent oxygen-evolving performance, achieving a current density of 10 mA cm –2 at an overpotential of 217 mV and maintaining stability for over 100 h at 100 mA cm –2 . The operando spectroscopic characterization and first-principles computations demonstrate that the uniformly reconstructed layer, obtained through controlled corrosion, possesses more favorable interfacial water components and enhanced intrinsic activity. Real-time analyses of ferric ion concentrations and pH values further indicate that the corrosion kinetics-controlled process can be categorized into three distinct stages. This work provides insights into the precise fabrication of electrocatalyst materials through corrosion-induced reconstruction, highlighting the connection between corrosion chemistry and electrocatalyst design.