Spin-Selective Catalysts for Oxygen-Involved Electrocatalysis

The sluggish kinetics of oxygen-involved electrolysis, such as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), hinders the efficiency of the pertaining energy conversion process, which can be promoted by using spin-selective materials to align the spin direction of oxygen-involved intermediates. This review delivers a thorough and timely overview of state-of-the-art spin-selective catalysts for OER and ORR. Primarily, the fundamental principle of spin-selective process is depicted by the spin-sensitive reaction pathways, pointing out that the existence of spin-polarized adsorption sites is necessary for the development of spin-selective catalysts. Subsequently, approaches for investigating the spin-related transition during electrocatalysis are introduced by reviewing in situ technologies and theoretical calculations. Then, the reported spin-selective catalysts are categorized into intrinsic spin-polarized materials, doping-induced spin-polarized materials, and multiple magnetic composites to discuss their application in electrocatalytic OER and ORR as well as their mechanism of spin polarization. Finally, the open questions and prospects in this field are concluded, aiming to offer a clear route for designing novel and highly-efficient spin-polarized materials for industrial oxygen-involved electrocatalysis. © 2024 The Author(s).