Highly efficient electrocatalysts are crucial to the widespread commercialisation of water electrolysis technology and an important step forward toward a sustainable energy future.

The Sobrido Group's Dr Carlos Mingoes, in collaboration with Dr Schroeder from UCL led a study published in ACS Materials to boost the electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction of Iridium nanoparticles through chiral functionalisation.

At a potential of 1.55V vs RHE, chiral functionalised Iridium exhibited an average 85% enhancement in activity. This activity enhancement is attributed to a spin-selective electron transfer mechanism taking place on the chiral functionalized catalysts, a characteristic induced by the chirality of the ligand.

This alternative path for the OER drastically reduces the production of hydrogen peroxide and maximises the oxygen production.

Updated by: Ana Jorge Sobrido