Optimizing the electronic spin state and delocalized electron of NiCo_(2)(OH)_(x)/MXene composite by interface engineering and plasma boosting oxygen evolution reaction

The electrocatalytic activity of transition-metal-based compounds is closely related to the electronic configuration.However,optimizing the surface electron spin state of catalysts remains a challenge.Here,we developed a spin-state and delocalized electron regulation method to optimize oxygen evolution reaction(OER)performance by in-situ growth of NiCo_(2)(OH)_(x) using Oswald ripening and coordinating etching process on MXene and plasma treatment.X-ray absorption spectroscopy,magnetic tests and electron paramagnetic resonance reveal that the coupling of NiCo_(2)(OH)_(x) and MXene can induce remarkable spin-state transition of Co^(3+)and transition metal ions electron delocalization,plasma treatment further optimizes the 3 d orbital structure and delocalized electron density.The unique Jahn-Teller phenomenon can be brought by the intermediate spin state(t2 _(g)^(5) e_(g)^(1))of Co^(3+),which benefits from the partial electron occupied egorbitals.This distinct electron configuration(t2_(g)^(5) e_(g)^(1))with unpaired electrons leads to orbital degeneracy,that the adsorption free energy of intermediate species and conductivity were further optimized.The optimized electrocatalyst exhibits excellent OER activity with an overpotential of 268 m V at 10 m A cm^(-2).DFT calculations show that plasma treatment can effectively regulate the d-band center of TMs to optimize the adsorption and improve the OER activity.This approach could guide the rational design and discovery of electrocatalysts with ideal electron configurations in the future.

Ferromagnetic-insulators-modulated transport properties on the surface of a topological insulator

Transport properties on the surface of a topological insulator （TI） under the modulation of a two-dimensional （2D） ferromagnet/ferromagnet junction are investigated by the method of wave function matching. The single ferromagnetic barrier modulated transmission probability is expected to be a periodic function of the polarization angle and the planar rotation angle, that decreases with the strength of the magnetic proximity exchange increasing. However, the transmission probability for the double ferromagnetic insulators modulated n-n junction and n-p junction is not a periodic function of polarization angle nor planar rotation angle, owing to the combined effects of the double ferromagnetic insulators and the barrier potential. Since the energy gap between the conduction band and the valence band is narrowed and widened respectively in ranges of 0 ≤ 0 〈π/2 and r/2 〈 0 ≤ π, the transmission probability of the n-n junction first increases rapidly and then decreases slowly with the increase of the magnetic proximity exchange strength. While the transmission probability for the n-p junction demonstrates an opposite trend on the strength of the magnetic proximity exchange because the band gaps contrarily vary. The obtained results may lead to the possible realization of a magnetic/electric switch based on TIs and be useful in further understanding the surface states of TIs.