Th e a u t ob i og rap h y of s ai n t g emma g al g an i

Thank you for visiting nature. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer. The design and synthesis of efficient electrocatalysts are important for electrochemical conversion technologies.

The oxygen evolution reaction OER is a key process in such conversions, having applications in water splitting and metal—air batteries. Here, we report ultrathin metal—organic frameworks MOFs as promising electrocatalysts for the OER in alkaline conditions.

Grantee: City of Los Angeles

We propose that the surface atoms in the ultrathin MOF sheets are coordinatively unsaturated—that is, they have open sites for adsorption—as evidenced by a suite of measurements, including X-ray spectroscopy and density-functional theory calculations. The findings suggest that the coordinatively unsaturated metal atoms are the dominating active centres and the coupling effect between Ni and Co metals is crucial for tuning the electrocatalytic activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution. Cook, T. Solar energy supply and storage for the legacy and nonlegacy worlds. Article Google Scholar. Smith, R. Photochemical route for accessing amorphous metal oxide materials for water oxidation catalysis. Science , 60—63 Symes, M. Decoupling hydrogen and oxygen evolution during electrolytic water splitting using an electron-coupled-proton buffer.