Spin-lattice coupling enables adaptive adsorption in magnetically-driven electrocatalysts

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that magnetic fields can modify spin-lattice coupling in Ni-Fe oxyhydroxides, relaxing scaling relationships during oxygen evolution and enabling more efficient electrocatalysis.

Contribution

It reveals that external magnetic stimuli can alter surface chemisorption and structural flexibility via spin-lattice coupling, offering a new approach to optimize electrocatalytic reactions.

Findings

Magnetic field alters surface chemisorption in Ni-Fe oxyhydroxides.

Spin-lattice coupling changes enable access to quasi-degenerate intermediates.

External stimulation redefines scaling limitations in electrocatalysis.

Abstract

A major challenge in electrochemistry is to decouple the reactive intermediates of a catalytic cycle to optimise their energies independently. During the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), such energy interdependence results from the need to generate multiple adsorbates at the same site and sets the minimum overpotential. Here, we show that an external stimulus, such as a magnetic field, can relax the scaling relationships between intermediates during the OER. Spectroscopic measurements and Density Functional Theory simulations in Ni-Fe oxyhydroxides reveal that applying a magnetic field alters surface chemisorption and injects structural flexibility at the interface. We interpret these observations as a consequence of stimulated changes in the spin-lattice coupling, which allow access to quasi-degenerate oxygenated intermediates that modulate the reaction energy demands. Our findings redefine the scaling limitations as state-projected rather than intrinsic and establish external stimulation as a strategy to navigate multi-state energy landscapes in electrocatalysis and sensing applications.