Amorphous MoO <sub>x</sub> Interfaces Activate Pt Nanoclusters for Ultralow‐Overpotential Chlorine Evolution

L Lipeng Tang (Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Sciences College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing China) T Tianqi Zhao J Jisheng Xie (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering) L Linke Fu (College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering) Y Yapeng Li Y Yifan Bu (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering) Y Yifan Fu J Jihan Zhou (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.) B Bingjun Xu T Tao Cheng (Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies) M Mufan Li (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Direct seawater electrolysis offers a pathway to co‐produce hydrogen and industrial chlorine, yet chlorine evolution at low chloride concentrations is limited by sluggish halide activation and rapid Pt dissolution under oxidative conditions. Here we show that in situ amorphization of molybdenum oxide dynamically reconstructs the metal–support electronic interface, generating Pt nanoclusters with cooperatively enhanced electronic metal–support interaction and lattice tensile strain. This electronically reconfigured interface simultaneously strengthens chloride adsorption, stabilizes Pt against chloro‐complex dissolution, and promotes early formation of reactive Pt–Cl intermediates. As a result, the amorphous‐interface catalyst achieves nearly 100% chlorine selectivity, an overpotential of only 65 mV at 10 mA cm −2 in seawater, and a mass activity 26‐fold higher than Pt/C. Operando Raman spectroscopy reveals pre‐equilibrium halide activation preceding chlorine evolution, consistent with a Volmer–Tafel mechanism enabled by adjacent electronically coupled Pt sites. These findings establish amorphization‐induced electronic interface engineering as a powerful strategy to simultaneously activate, stabilize, and synergistically accelerate electrocatalytic halogen evolution.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 25
Published June 15, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

L

Lipeng Tang

Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Sciences College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University Beijing China

T

Tianqi Zhao

J

Jisheng Xie

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

L

Linke Fu

College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

Y

Yapeng Li

Y

Yifan Bu

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

Y

Yifan Fu

J

Jihan Zhou

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.

B

Bingjun Xu

T

Tao Cheng

Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies

M

Mufan Li

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Integrated Spectroscopy, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering