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Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Author Spotlight: Magnetometric Characterization of Intermediates in the Solid-State Electrochemistry of Redox-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks
Published on: June 9, 2023
Defect-Driven Electrochemical Domain Modulation in Prussian Blue Revealed by Single-Entity Analysis
He Zhang1, Yang Tao1, Lei Pan1
1Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States.
Abstract:
Electrochemical domains, defined as the spatial region of the electrode material where charge transfer occurs, are central to charge storage and electrocatalysis. In Prussian Blue (PB), a prototypical mixed-valence framework, these domains extend throughout the three-dimensional lattice and are shaped by structural accessibility and defect distribution. However, ensemble measurements obscure this spatial heterogeneity, averaging local variations in the electrochemical behavior. Here, we apply single-entity electrochemistry to individual PB nanocubes to resolve electrochemical domain behavior during K+ insertion and H2O2 reduction. Correlative electron microscopy and electrochemical analysis reveal a defect-driven reversal in function: smaller nanocubes exhibit a greater volumetric capacity for K+ storage, whereas larger nanocubes show greater catalytic activity for H2O2 reduction. This contrast originates from the dual role of structural defects, which limit ion-accessible volume by disrupting lattice connectivity and simultaneously expose coordinatively unsaturated Fe sites that promote catalytic activity. Our findings establish a mechanistic framework that connects structure, electrochemical domain accessibility, and function, demonstrating the power of integrating single-particle electrochemistry with high-resolution structural imaging in resolving spatially heterogeneous interfacial processes in redox-active materials.
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