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Orbital Physics of Perovskites for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

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Abstract

The study of magnetic perovskite oxides has led to novel and very active compounds for O2 generation and other energy applications. Focusing on three different case studies, we summarise the bulk electronic and magnetic properties that initially serve to classify active perovskite catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Ab-initio calculations centred on the orbital physics of the electrons in the d-shell provide a unique insight into the complex interplay between spin dependent interactions versus selectivity and OER reactivity that occurs in these transition-metal oxides. We analyse how the spin, orbital and lattice degrees of freedom establish rational design principles for OER. We observe that itinerant magnetism serves as an indicator for highly active oxygen electro-catalysts. Optimum active sites individually have a net magnetic moment, giving rise to exchange interactions which are collectively ferromagnetic, indicative of spin dependent transport. In particular, optimum active sites for OER need to possess sufficient empty orthogonal orbitals, oriented towards the ligands, to preserve an incoming spin aligned electron flow. Calculations from first principles open up the possibility of anticipating materials with improved electro-catalytic properties, based on orbital engineering.

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Acknowledgements

JM and VP express their appreciation to the financial support of MINECO/FEDER project CTQ2015-67366-P and from the MECD (FPU14/06003), respectively. In addition, the resources from the supercomputer “memento”, technical expertise and assistance provided by BIFI-ZCAM (Universidad de Zaragoza) are acknowledged. RS, TB, YJ, JWN and JG acknowledge financial support from Synfuels China Technology Co. Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SynCat@Beijing, Synfuels China Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing-Huairou, 101407, People’s Republic of China

    Ryan Sharpe, Tingbin Lim, Yunzhe Jiao, J. W. Niemantsverdriet & Jose Gracia

  2. Departamento de Química Física and Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

    Julen Munarriz & Victor Polo

  3. SynCat@Differ, Syngaschem BV, PO Box 6336, 5600 HH, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    J. W. Niemantsverdriet & Jose Gracia

Authors
  1. Ryan Sharpe
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  2. Julen Munarriz
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  3. Tingbin Lim
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  4. Yunzhe Jiao
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  5. J. W. Niemantsverdriet
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  6. Victor Polo
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  7. Jose Gracia
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Correspondence to Ryan Sharpe or Jose Gracia.

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Sharpe, R., Munarriz, J., Lim, T. et al. Orbital Physics of Perovskites for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction. Top Catal 61, 267–275 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-018-0895-4

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