Elucidating the Role of Alkali-Metal Cations in Nickel Oxide OER Catalysts Under Mild pH Conditions by Operando X-Ray...

Understanding the role of alkali-metal cations in oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysis is critical for designing efficient electrocatalysts that operate under mild pH conditions. In this study, we systematically investigate the effect of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺ ions on the OER activity of nickel oxide catalysts electrodeposited in pH 9.0 carbonate buffer. Electrochemical measurements reveal that the OER activity increases with increasing cation size, following the trend Li⁺ < Na⁺ < K⁺ < Cs⁺. In situ UV-vis spectroscopy shows that K⁺ and Cs⁺ promote the oxidation of Ni²⁺ to high-valent Ni species (Ni³⁺/Ni⁴⁺) at lower potentials, indicating that ion diffusion and electrochemical reactions proceed more smoothly. Complementary operando Ni K-edge and O K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure analyses confirm the structural transition from Ni(OH)₂ (Ni²⁺) to catalytically active γ-NiOOH (Ni^3.6+) under OER conditions and highlight cation-dependent differences in phase transition behavior and reversibility in the presence of K⁺ or Cs⁺. These findings demonstrate that K⁺ and Cs⁺ ions not only lower the Ni oxidation onset potential but also facilitate ion transport during water oxidation. This work provides valuable mechanistic insight into cation-dependent OER enhancement and offers guidelines for the design of next-generation electrocatalysts tailored for near-neutral environments.