Bionic Design of Ni<sup>4+</sup> Lewis Acid Site Based on Selective Seawater Oxidation

H Huimin Mao (Key Laboratory of Eco‐Chemical Engineering International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco‐Chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao 266042 P.R. China) X Xiaobin Liu (Department of Surgery, Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopedics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) T Tong Cui J Junheng Tang (Key Laboratory of Eco‐Chemical Engineering International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco‐Chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao 266042 P.R. China) Z Zhi Su (Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, College of Chemistry and Materials Science) J Jingqi Chi (Key Laboratory of Eco‐Chemical Engineering International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco‐Chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing College of Chemical Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao P.R. China) Y Yongming Chai Z Zexing Wu (Key Laboratory of Eco‐Chemical Engineering International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco‐Chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing College of Chemical Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao P.R. China) L Lei Wang

Abstract

AbstractThe side reaction caused by chloride ions and the toxicity to the active site have always been the hindrance to the electrocatalyst of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for seawater splitting. Herein, inspired by the early flowering of damaged plants, we designed a catalyst rich in oxygen vacancies (Ovac) and proved that Ovac can accelerate the formation of Ni3+ and further oxidize it to Ni4+, which we named as the “ripening” mechanism of Ovac. Ovac reduces the hydrogen proton desorption energy by regulating local charge redistribution, thus realizing the rapid transformation of Ni2+→Ni3+→Ni4+. Meanwhile, the hard Lewis acid Ni4+ has strong selectivity to OH−, avoiding the competitiveness and corrosiveness of chloride ions in seawater. This work provides an effective strategy for the simple and rapid construction of self‐rebuilding high‐valence Ni4+ electrocatalysts, and is expected to provide guidance for the development of seawater electrolysis.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 41
Published October 06, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

H

Huimin Mao

Key Laboratory of Eco‐Chemical Engineering International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco‐Chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao 266042 P.R. China

X

Xiaobin Liu

Department of Surgery, Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopedics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

T

Tong Cui

J

Junheng Tang

Key Laboratory of Eco‐Chemical Engineering International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco‐Chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao 266042 P.R. China

Z

Zhi Su

Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, College of Chemistry and Materials Science

J

Jingqi Chi

Key Laboratory of Eco‐Chemical Engineering International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco‐Chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing College of Chemical Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao P.R. China

Y

Yongming Chai

Z

Zexing Wu

Key Laboratory of Eco‐Chemical Engineering International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Eco‐Chemical Engineering and Green Manufacturing College of Chemical Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao P.R. China

L

Lei Wang