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Boron-Tuned Covalency Enables Durable and High-Performance Perovskite OER Catalysts
Zhirui Fu1, Yucheng Hang1, Rong Ma1
1UNIST-NUIST Environment and Energy Jointed Lab (UNNU), School of Environment Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, P. R. China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Boron doping enhances perovskite catalyst performance for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This strategy improves activity and stability, crucial for energy applications like zinc-air batteries.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Perovskite catalysts offer potential for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) but require improvements in activity and stability.
- Current challenges include optimizing electronic structure and reaction pathways for efficient OER.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the activity and stability of perovskite catalysts for OER through boron incorporation.
- To investigate the effects of boron doping on the electronic states and covalency of Sr2(FeCo0.6Mo0.4)O5+δ.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of boron-doped perovskite catalysts (Sr2(FeCo0.6Mo0.4)0.9B0.1O5+δ).
- Electrochemical characterization including OER performance testing (overpotential, Tafel slope) and durability studies.
- Spectroscopic analysis (e.g., X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) to determine valence states.
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations (Electron Localization Function, Density of States, free-energy) to understand bonding and reaction mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Boron incorporation into Sr2(FeCo0.6Mo0.4)O5+δ significantly improved OER performance, achieving 300 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² with a 67 mV dec⁻¹ Tafel slope.
- Enhanced catalyst stability was demonstrated with over 140 hours of operation in 1 M KOH.
- Spectroscopic and DFT results indicated lowered Co/Fe valences, strengthened TM-O bonding, and reduced reaction barriers, suggesting a shift towards an adsorbate evolution pathway.
- Flexible zinc-air batteries utilizing the doped perovskite showed reduced charging overpotentials and superior cycling stability compared to Pt/C+RuO2.
Conclusions:
- Metalloid doping, specifically boron incorporation, is an effective strategy for covalency engineering in perovskite catalysts.
- This approach successfully boosts both the activity and stability of perovskites for the oxygen evolution reaction.
- The findings highlight the potential of tailored perovskite catalysts for advanced energy storage devices like zinc-air batteries.
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