DFT-metadynamics insights on the origin of the oxygen evolution kinetics at the (100)-WSe2 surface
Water oxidation or oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in electrochemical cells is considered to be a major bottleneck in the way of hydrogen production by electro-synthesis, mainly due to a sluggish kinetics that characterizes the OER steps. Layered transition metal dichalcogenides, such as WSe2, are emerging as promising non-precious electrocatalysts for water splitting due to their excellent activity and stability. This paper aims to shed light on the (100) WSe2-aqueous interface in catalyzing the slow kinetics of the OER in the context of water splitting electro-catalysis. We employ state-of-the-art DFT-metadynamics to explore reaction mechanisms, activation free energies, and catalytic sites. This study reveals an energetically preferred water-assisted OER mechanism, where proton transfer is facilitated by the surrounding aqueous environment. Our findings not only provide insights into the OER process but also offer a design strategy for optimizing WSe2-based catalysts and a modeling protocol for future DFT-based OER investigations.
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Creazzo, F., Sivula, K., & Luber, S. (2025). DFT-metadynamics insights on the origin of the oxygen evolution kinetics at the (100)-WSe2 surface. iScience, 28(3), Article 112045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.112045
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