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Three fundamental questions on one of our best water oxidation catalysts: a critical perspective

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Abstract

Nickel oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) is considered to be one of the best-known catalysts for the water oxidation reaction. Recently, progress has been made in pushing the limits of water splitting efficiency by incorporating NiOOH in photo-electrochemical cell architectures. Despite these cutting-edge advances, some basic questions have yet been fully answered. This perspective highlights the three most critical questions that are considered to be the very first step for any theoretical investigation. We suggest possible ways to answer these questions from a theoretician’s perspective. Progress toward this direction is expected to shed light on the origin of NiOOH’s success.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Morantz Energy Research Fund, the Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program, the I-CORE Program of the Planning and Budgeting Committee, and The Israel Science Foundation (Grant No. 152/11). The COST Action IC1208 is acknowledged for funding travel that promoted this research. V.B. acknowledges the Marsilio Ficino Fellowship of the Solar Fuels I-CORE. J.Z. acknowledges a fellowship by the Israel Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel

    Vicky Fidelsky

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel

    Valeria Butera, Jeremie Zaffran & Maytal Caspary Toroker

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  1. Vicky Fidelsky
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  2. Valeria Butera
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  4. Maytal Caspary Toroker
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Correspondence to Maytal Caspary Toroker.

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Fidelsky, V., Butera, V., Zaffran, J. et al. Three fundamental questions on one of our best water oxidation catalysts: a critical perspective. Theor Chem Acc 135, 162 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00214-016-1915-8

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