Layered double hydroxides are promising candidates for the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. Unfortunately, their catalytic kinetics and long-term stabilities are far from satisfactory compared to those of rare metals. Here, we investigate the durability of nickel-iron layered double hydroxides and show that ablation of the lamellar structure due to metal dissolution is the cause of the decreased stability. Inspired by the amino acid residues in photosystem II, we report a strategy using trimesic acid anchors to prepare the subsize nickel-iron layered double hydroxides with kinetics, activity and stability superior to those of commercial catalysts. Fundamental investigations through operando spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal that the superaerophobic surface facilitates prompt release of the generated O₂ bubbles, and protects the structure of the catalyst. Coupling between the metals and coordinated carboxylates via C‒O‒Fe bonding prevents dissolution of the metal species, which stabilizes the electronic structure by static coordination. In addition, the uncoordinated carboxylates formed by dynamic evolution during oxygen evolution reaction serve as proton ferries to accelerate the oxygen evolution reaction kinetics. This work offers a promising way to achieve breakthroughs in oxygen evolution reaction stability and dynamic performance by introducing functional ligands with static and dynamic compatibilities.

Hydrated vanadium pentoxide (VOH) can deliver a gravimetric capacity as high as 400 mA h g⁻¹ owing to the variable valence states of the V cation from 5+ to 3+ in an aqueous zinc ion battery. The incorporation of divalent transition metal cations has been demonstrated to overcome the structural instability, sluggish kinetics, fast capacity degradation, and serious polarization. The current study reveals that the catalytic effects of transition metal cations are probably the key to the significantly improved electrochemical properties and battery performance because of the higher covalent character of 55% in the Cu–O bond in comparison with 32% in the Mg–O bond in the respective samples. Cu(II) pre-inserted VOH (CuVOH) possesses a significantly enhanced intercalation storage capacity, an increased discharge voltage, great transport properties, and reduced polarization, while both VOH and Mg(II) pre-inserted VOH (MgVOH) demonstrate similar electrochemical properties and performances, indicating that the incorporation of Mg cations has little or no impact. For example, CuVOH has a redox voltage gap of 0.02 V, much smaller than 0.25 V for VOH and 0.27 V for MgVOH. CuVOH shows an enhanced exchange current density of 0.23 A g⁻¹, compared to 0.20 A g⁻¹ for VOH and 0.19 A g⁻¹ for MgVOH. CuVOH delivers a zinc ion storage capacity of 379 mA h g⁻¹, higher than 349 mA h g⁻¹ for MgVOH and 337 mA h g⁻¹ for VOH at 0.5 A g⁻¹. CuVOH shows an energy efficiency of 72%, superior to 53% for VOH and 55% for MgVOH. All of the results suggest that pre-inserted Cu(II) cations played a critical role in catalyzing the zinc ion intercalation reaction, while the Mg(II) cations did not exert a detectable catalytic effect.

Stimulus-responsive adsorbent materials exhibit tunable CO₂ capture and separation performance in response to pressure, temperature, light, electric field, magnetic field, guest molecules, pH, and redox.