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Electrochemical Surface Modification of Layered IrTe2Films for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Seoh, Hyo Won ; Khim, Yeong Gwang ; Lee, Kyeong Jun ; Rhee, Tae Gyu ; Kim, Mincheol ; Khim, Young Rok ; Khim, Young Hoon ; Chang, Seo Hyoung ; Seo, Yoon Kyung and Kim, Gyungtae , et al. (2026) In ACS Catalysis 16(1). p.614-622
Abstract

Iridium ditelluride (IrTe2) as a two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) has attracted significant attention as a promising catalyst for oxygen evolution reactions (OERs). Although its electrochemical performance has been explored, detailed surface–state analyses are essential to fully elucidate the underlying catalytic mechanisms. Here, we fabricated surface-modulated IrTe2 thin films via repeated cyclic voltammetry and demonstrated that the formation of Ir–O–Te surface bonds play a critical role in enhancing OER activity. The modified surface provides a favorable electronic environment that stabilizes catalytically active Ir–OH and Ir–OO species. Moreover, ambient-pressure X-ray photoemission... (More)

Iridium ditelluride (IrTe2) as a two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) has attracted significant attention as a promising catalyst for oxygen evolution reactions (OERs). Although its electrochemical performance has been explored, detailed surface–state analyses are essential to fully elucidate the underlying catalytic mechanisms. Here, we fabricated surface-modulated IrTe2 thin films via repeated cyclic voltammetry and demonstrated that the formation of Ir–O–Te surface bonds play a critical role in enhancing OER activity. The modified surface provides a favorable electronic environment that stabilizes catalytically active Ir–OH and Ir–OO species. Moreover, ambient-pressure X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (APXPS) under water vapor atmosphere revealed that the oxidized surface facilitates the adsorption and dissociation of water molecules. This process leads to partial reduction of Te atoms, facilitating the formation of hydroxyl bonds (−OH) and tuning the local charge distribution. As a result, the partially oxidized IrTe2 film (Oxd-20) exhibited a markedly improved OER performance, with an overpotential of 354 mV at 10 mA/cm2, outperforming pristine IrTe2 and benchmark iridium films. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the enhanced OER activity of IrTe2, highlighting the pivotal role of surface–state modulation in activating 2D telluride catalysts.

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publishing date
type
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publication status
published
subject
keywords
ambient-pressure X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (APXPS), electrochemical surface engineering, iridium ditelluride (IrTe), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs)
in
ACS Catalysis
volume
16
issue
1
pages
9 pages
publisher
The American Chemical Society (ACS)
external identifiers
  • scopus:105026337767
ISSN
2155-5435
DOI
10.1021/acscatal.5c07074
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6b26a054-77a9-4c5f-a129-128f3ac66b01
date added to LUP
2026-03-16 10:31:11
date last changed
2026-03-16 10:31:53
@article{6b26a054-77a9-4c5f-a129-128f3ac66b01,
  abstract     = {{<p>Iridium ditelluride (IrTe<sub>2</sub>) as a two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) has attracted significant attention as a promising catalyst for oxygen evolution reactions (OERs). Although its electrochemical performance has been explored, detailed surface–state analyses are essential to fully elucidate the underlying catalytic mechanisms. Here, we fabricated surface-modulated IrTe<sub>2</sub> thin films via repeated cyclic voltammetry and demonstrated that the formation of Ir–O–Te surface bonds play a critical role in enhancing OER activity. The modified surface provides a favorable electronic environment that stabilizes catalytically active Ir–OH and Ir–OO species. Moreover, ambient-pressure X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (APXPS) under water vapor atmosphere revealed that the oxidized surface facilitates the adsorption and dissociation of water molecules. This process leads to partial reduction of Te atoms, facilitating the formation of hydroxyl bonds (−OH) and tuning the local charge distribution. As a result, the partially oxidized IrTe<sub>2</sub> film (Oxd-20) exhibited a markedly improved OER performance, with an overpotential of 354 mV at 10 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, outperforming pristine IrTe<sub>2</sub> and benchmark iridium films. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the enhanced OER activity of IrTe<sub>2</sub>, highlighting the pivotal role of surface–state modulation in activating 2D telluride catalysts.</p>}},
  author       = {{Seoh, Hyo Won and Khim, Yeong Gwang and Lee, Kyeong Jun and Rhee, Tae Gyu and Kim, Mincheol and Khim, Young Rok and Khim, Young Hoon and Chang, Seo Hyoung and Seo, Yoon Kyung and Kim, Gyungtae and Klyushin, Alexander and Kim, Hyuk Jin and Chang, Young Jun}},
  issn         = {{2155-5435}},
  keywords     = {{ambient-pressure X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (APXPS); electrochemical surface engineering; iridium ditelluride (IrTe); oxygen evolution reaction (OER); two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs)}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{614--622}},
  publisher    = {{The American Chemical Society (ACS)}},
  series       = {{ACS Catalysis}},
  title        = {{Electrochemical Surface Modification of Layered IrTe<sub>2</sub>Films for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.5c07074}},
  doi          = {{10.1021/acscatal.5c07074}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}