Early View e202509915
Research Article

Reversible Structural Oscillation Mediates Stable Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Dr. Qunlei Wen

Dr. Qunlei Wen

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Engineering and Technology, and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Dr. Tianyang Liu

Dr. Tianyang Liu

Jiangsu Co-Innovation Centre of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037 P.R. China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Dr. Danji Huang

Dr. Danji Huang

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Engineering and Technology, and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

PetroChina ShenZhen New Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000 P.R. China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Dr. Yu Lin

Dr. Yu Lin

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

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Zhenhong Yang

Zhenhong Yang

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

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Dr. Ruoou Yang

Dr. Ruoou Yang

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

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Prof. Youwen Liu

Corresponding Author

Prof. Youwen Liu

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Prof. Xiaomeng Ai

Prof. Xiaomeng Ai

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Engineering and Technology, and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

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Prof. Jiakun Fang

Corresponding Author

Prof. Jiakun Fang

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Engineering and Technology, and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Prof. Yafei Li

Prof. Yafei Li

Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power Batteries, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023 P.R. China

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Prof. Bao Yu Xia

Prof. Bao Yu Xia

Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

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Prof. Shijie Cheng

Prof. Shijie Cheng

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Engineering and Technology, and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

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Prof. Tianyou Zhai

Corresponding Author

Prof. Tianyou Zhai

State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074 P.R. China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 08 July 2025

Graphical Abstract

This study reveals that dynamic structural oscillations within the [Ni–O2–Fe] units of NiFe LDHs identified a strong dependence on the alternating active Fe dissolution and redeposition, thus mediating the dynamic stability. Further, engineering the oscillation manners via the in situ sulfur leaching and cobalt-induced electron-withdrawing effects achieves unprecedented industrial-scale durability (>800 h @ 8000 mA) and a record energy efficiency (4.05 kWh Nm−3 H2 at 4000 A m−2).

Abstract

The dynamic dissolution of active species of electrocatalysts suffers severe durability issues, thus limiting practical sustainable electrochemical application despite the enormous strides in the activity. An atomistic understanding of the dynamic pattern is a fundamental prerequisite for realizing prolonged stability. Herein, modeling on NiFe LDHs, multiple operando spectroscopies revealed the structural oscillation of the local [Ni–O2–Fe] unit identified a strong dependence on the alternant Fe dissolution and redeposition during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) process, thus mediating the dynamic stability. At this point, a proof-of-concept strategy with S, Co co-doping was demonstrated to tune structural oscillations. In situ S leaching that alleviates the lattice mismatch suppresses Fe dissolution, while the electron-withdrawing Co as a deposition site promotes Fe redeposition, thus achieving the reversible oscillation of local [Ni/Co–O2–Fe] units and dynamic stability. The implementation of the modified NiFe LDH in industrial water electrolysis equipment operated steadily over 800 h (5000-h lifetime obtained by epitaxial method with 10% attenuation) with an energy consumption of 4.05 kWh Nm−3 H2 @ 4000 A m−2. The levelized cost of hydrogen of US$ 2.315 per kgH2 overmatches the European Commission's target for the coming decade (<US$ 2.5 per kgH2).

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

Research data are not shared.

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