Enhancing catalytic durability in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction through squaric acid anion intercalation

Abstract The corrosive acidic interfacial microenvironment caused by rapid multi-step deprotonation of alkaline oxygen evolution reaction in industrial high current water electrolysis is one of the key problems limiting its stability. Some functional anions derived from electrocatalysis exhibit spec...

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Main Authors: Ruoyao Fan, Shanshan Lu, Fuli Wang, Yusheng Zhang, Mirabbos Hojamberdiev, Yongming Chai, Bin Dong, Bin Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58623-7
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author Ruoyao Fan
Shanshan Lu
Fuli Wang
Yusheng Zhang
Mirabbos Hojamberdiev
Yongming Chai
Bin Dong
Bin Zhang
author_facet Ruoyao Fan
Shanshan Lu
Fuli Wang
Yusheng Zhang
Mirabbos Hojamberdiev
Yongming Chai
Bin Dong
Bin Zhang
author_sort Ruoyao Fan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The corrosive acidic interfacial microenvironment caused by rapid multi-step deprotonation of alkaline oxygen evolution reaction in industrial high current water electrolysis is one of the key problems limiting its stability. Some functional anions derived from electrocatalysis exhibit special functionalities in modulating the interface microenvironment, but this matter has not received adequate attention in academic discussions. Here we show that the coordinate squaric acid undergoes a dissolve-re-intercalation process in alkaline oxygen evolution, leading to its stabilization within the Fe-doped NiOOH interlayer in the form of the squaric acid anions (NiFe-SQ/NF-R). These intercalated squaric acid anions stabilizes OH− through multiple hydrogen bond interactions, which is conducive to maintaining high catalytic interface alkalinity. Hence, the interfacial acidification of prepared NiFe-SQ/NF-R is inhibited, resulting in a tenfold prolong in its catalytic durability (from 65 to 700 h) when exposed to 3.0 A cm−2, as opposed to NiFe-LDH/NF-R. This derived functional anion guarantees the enduring performance of the NiFe-derived electrocatalyst under high current densities by controlling the interfacial alkalinity.
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issn 2041-1723
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publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-73a3db20ddaa482fb7f0185fd11872712025-08-20T03:10:17ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-58623-7Enhancing catalytic durability in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction through squaric acid anion intercalationRuoyao Fan0Shanshan Lu1Fuli Wang2Yusheng Zhang3Mirabbos Hojamberdiev4Yongming Chai5Bin Dong6Bin Zhang7State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China)Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin UniversityState Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China)State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China)Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern DenmarkState Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China)State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China)Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin UniversityAbstract The corrosive acidic interfacial microenvironment caused by rapid multi-step deprotonation of alkaline oxygen evolution reaction in industrial high current water electrolysis is one of the key problems limiting its stability. Some functional anions derived from electrocatalysis exhibit special functionalities in modulating the interface microenvironment, but this matter has not received adequate attention in academic discussions. Here we show that the coordinate squaric acid undergoes a dissolve-re-intercalation process in alkaline oxygen evolution, leading to its stabilization within the Fe-doped NiOOH interlayer in the form of the squaric acid anions (NiFe-SQ/NF-R). These intercalated squaric acid anions stabilizes OH− through multiple hydrogen bond interactions, which is conducive to maintaining high catalytic interface alkalinity. Hence, the interfacial acidification of prepared NiFe-SQ/NF-R is inhibited, resulting in a tenfold prolong in its catalytic durability (from 65 to 700 h) when exposed to 3.0 A cm−2, as opposed to NiFe-LDH/NF-R. This derived functional anion guarantees the enduring performance of the NiFe-derived electrocatalyst under high current densities by controlling the interfacial alkalinity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58623-7
spellingShingle Ruoyao Fan
Shanshan Lu
Fuli Wang
Yusheng Zhang
Mirabbos Hojamberdiev
Yongming Chai
Bin Dong
Bin Zhang
Enhancing catalytic durability in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction through squaric acid anion intercalation
Nature Communications
title Enhancing catalytic durability in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction through squaric acid anion intercalation
title_full Enhancing catalytic durability in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction through squaric acid anion intercalation
title_fullStr Enhancing catalytic durability in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction through squaric acid anion intercalation
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing catalytic durability in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction through squaric acid anion intercalation
title_short Enhancing catalytic durability in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction through squaric acid anion intercalation
title_sort enhancing catalytic durability in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction through squaric acid anion intercalation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58623-7
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