Multi-Domain versus Single-Domain: A Magnetic Field is Not a Must for Promoting Spin-Polarized Water Oxidation

The reaction kinetics of spin-polarized oxygen evolution reaction (OER) can be enhanced by ferromagnetic (FM) catalysts under an external magnetic field. However, applying a magnetic field necessitates additional energy consumption and creates design difficulties for OER. Herein, we demonstrate that a single-domain FM catalyst without external magnetic fields exhibits a similar OER increment to its magnetized multi-domain one. The evidence is given by comparing the pH-dependent increment of OER on multi- and single-domain FM catalysts with or without a magnetic field. The intrinsic activity of a single-domain catalyst is higher than that of a multi-domain counterpart. The latter can be promoted to approach the former by the magnetization effect. Reducing the FM catalyst size into the single-domain region, the spin-polarized OER performance can be achieved without a magnetic field, illustrating an external magnetic field is not a requirement to reap the benefits of magnetic catalysts.