Nanointerface coupling activates earth-abundant elements for enhanced oxygen evolution electrode process

Wang, M.*; 辻 卓也; 松村 大樹; 坂牛 健*; 他9名*

Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 130(2), p.931 - 941, 2026/01

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.5c06544

Understanding how compositional complexity influences electrocatalytic kinetics remains a major challenge in the design of multicomponent materials. The multifaceted interactions between constituent elements are able to obscure the factors governing kinetics of electrode processes. Here, we introduce a small compositional change to modulate the rate-determining step of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) by tuning the binding energies of key intermediates. We combine advanced characterization, including electrochemical X-ray absorption spectroscopy, with first-principles calculations to demonstrate that the drastic enhancement in OER activity of MnFeNi-based materials is driven by synergistic interactions among the constituent elements. This enhancement stems from targeted modulation of intrinsic reaction pathways, shifting the rate-determining step via controlled stabilization of key intermediates. Our findings introduce a clear viewpoint for understanding how compositional tuning governs kinetics in complex electrocatalytic systems, offering new design principles for next-generation electrochemical materials.