Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but their stability and kinetics are limited by metal dissolution and lamellar structure ablation. This study introduces a bioinspired strategy using trimesic acid anchors to create sub-size NiFe-LDH nanosheets with enhanced OER performance. Operando spectroscopy and DFT calculations reveal that the superaerophobic surface facilitates O2 bubble release, while C-O-Fe bonding prevents metal dissolution. Uncoordinated carboxylates act as proton ferries, accelerating OER kinetics. This approach offers a pathway to improve OER stability and dynamic performance.

Xiaojing Lin, Zhaojie Wang, Shoufu Cao, Yuying Hu, Siyuan Liu, Xiaodong Chen, Hongyu Chen, Xingheng Zhang, Shuxian Wei, Hui Xu, Zhi Cheng, Qi Hou, Daofeng Sun, Xiaoqing Lu