Spin-State Controlled Atomically Precise Catalysts for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction Design and Mechanism

Since the oxygen is in a triplet state and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) mechanism is related to the electron spin state, it is possible to improve the catalytic ability by regulating the spin state of the catalyst. From this point of view, we first introduce the unique electronic structure of oxygen, oxygen evolution reaction products, and then detail the mechanism of electron spin correlation in the entire oxygen evolution reaction, and how the catalyst affects this electron spin state, thereby affecting the catalytic reaction rate. Then, we introduced the research on the regulation of the electron spin states of the catalyst. Since the research dimension of the electron spin states is mostly concentrated at the atomic level, the unique atomic structure of the single-atom catalyst is more conducive to the first research. Therefore, we introduced the research on the spin state regulation of the single-atom catalyst. The spin state control at the atomic level of catalysts such as spinel is further introduced. Finally, the research on spin state regulation of oxygen evolution catalysts was summarized and prospected. In the future, the mechanism of spin state regulation of catalysts at the atomic level should be studied more clearly by developing in situ characterization techniques.