Active oxygen species mediate the iron-promoting electrocatalysis of oxygen evolution reaction on metal oxyhydroxides

Iron is an extraordinary promoter to impose nickel/cobalt (hydr)oxides as the most active oxygen evolution reaction catalysts, whereas the synergistic effect is actively debated. Here, we unveil that active oxygen species mediate a strong electrochemical interaction between iron oxides (FeO(x)H(y)) and the supporting metal oxyhydroxides. Our survey on the electrochemical behavior of nine supporting metal oxyhydroxides (M(O)OH) uncovers that FeO(x)H(y) synergistically promotes substrates that can produce active oxygen species exclusively. Tafel slopes correlate with the presence and kind of oxygen species. Moreover, the oxygen evolution reaction onset potentials of FeO(x)H(y)@M(O)OH coincide with the emerging potentials of active oxygen species, whereas large potential gaps are present for intact M(O)OH. Chemical probe experiments suggest that active oxygen species could act as proton acceptors and/or mediators for proton transfer and/or diffusion in cooperative catalysis. This discovery offers a new insight to understand the synergistic catalysis of Fe-based oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts.