Spin‐Dominated Reconstruction Kinetics in Prussian Blue Analog Enables Efficient Seawater Splitting

Z Zi‐Qi Ge (Jilin Joint Technology Innovation Laboratory of Developing and Utilizing Materials of Reducing Pollution and Carbon Emissions College of Engineering Jilin Normal University Siping P. R. China) S Shaokuan Chen (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/Institute of Clean Energy Materials/ Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clean Energy and Materials/Key Laboratory For Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta Ministry of Education Guangzhou University Guangzhou P.R. China) H Hui‐Jian Zhang (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/Institute of Clean Energy Materials/ Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clean Energy and Materials/Key Laboratory For Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta Ministry of Education Guangzhou University Guangzhou P.R. China) C Chunbo Liu G Guangbo Che (Jilin Joint Technology Innovation Laboratory of Developing and Utilizing Materials of Reducing Pollution and Carbon Emissions College of Engineering Jilin Normal University Siping P. R. China) X Xiao‐Tong Wang (MOE Key Laboratory For UV Light‐Emitting Materials and Technology Northeast Normal University Changchun Jilin P. R. China) Z Zhao‐Qing Liu (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/Institute of Clean Energy Materials/ Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clean Energy and Materials/Key Laboratory For Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta Ministry of Education Guangzhou University Guangzhou P.R. China)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The spin state of metal centers is identified as a pivotal descriptor dominating the electrochemical reconstruction kinetics of Prussian blue analogs (PBAs). We demonstrate that constructing an interfacial electric field in MnFeO x /PBA pre‐catalyst triggers a partial high spin configuration of Fe centers, introducing partial t 2g occupancy and thereby substantially enhancing metal to ligand π backdonation. This electronic perturbation destabilizes the cyanide ligand field, rendering the entire coordination framework susceptible to rapid electrochemically driven transformation into active (oxy)hydroxide phases under OER conditions. The reconstructed catalyst (R‐MnFeO x /PBA) exhibits markedly accelerated reconstruction kinetics and delivers ultralow overpotential of 201 mV to reach 10 mA cm ‒2 in simulated seawater. Crucially, R‐MnFeO x /PBA enabled alkaline membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) affords Faraday efficiencies of up to 97.6% and can operate stably for 1150 h at 1000 mA cm ‒2 . This work establishes spin‐state engineering as a unique pre‐catalyst design strategy that bridges electronic structure manipulation with reconstruction‐enhanced electrocatalysis.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 29
Published July 13, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

Z

Zi‐Qi Ge

Jilin Joint Technology Innovation Laboratory of Developing and Utilizing Materials of Reducing Pollution and Carbon Emissions College of Engineering Jilin Normal University Siping P. R. China

S

Shaokuan Chen

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/Institute of Clean Energy Materials/ Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clean Energy and Materials/Key Laboratory For Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta Ministry of Education Guangzhou University Guangzhou P.R. China

H

Hui‐Jian Zhang

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/Institute of Clean Energy Materials/ Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clean Energy and Materials/Key Laboratory For Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta Ministry of Education Guangzhou University Guangzhou P.R. China

C

Chunbo Liu

G

Guangbo Che

Jilin Joint Technology Innovation Laboratory of Developing and Utilizing Materials of Reducing Pollution and Carbon Emissions College of Engineering Jilin Normal University Siping P. R. China

X

Xiao‐Tong Wang

MOE Key Laboratory For UV Light‐Emitting Materials and Technology Northeast Normal University Changchun Jilin P. R. China

Z

Zhao‐Qing Liu

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/Institute of Clean Energy Materials/ Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clean Energy and Materials/Key Laboratory For Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta Ministry of Education Guangzhou University Guangzhou P.R. China