Tailoring the d-Orbital Splitting Manner of Single Atomic Sites for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction

Regulating the electronic states of single atomic sites around the Fermi level remains a major concern for boosting the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, a Fe d-orbital splitting manner modulation strategy by constructing axial coordination on Fe-N₄ sites is presented. Experimental investigations and theoretical calculations reveal that the axial tractions induce the distortion of square-planar field (Fe-N₄ SP), up to the quasi-octahedral coordination (Fe-N₄O₁ OC_quasi), thus leading to the electron rearrangement with a diluted spin polarization. The declined population of unpaired electrons in d_z², d_xz and d_yz states engenders a moderate adsorption of ORR intermediates, thereby reinforcing the intrinsic reaction activity. In situ infrared spectroscopy further demonstrates that the reordering of d-orbital splitting and occupation facilitates the desorption of *OH. The Fe-N₄O₁ OC_quasi exhibits a dramatic improvement of kinetic current density and turnover frequency, which are fivefold and tenfold higher than those of Fe-N₄ SP. This work presents a novel understanding on improving the electrocatalytic performance through the orbital-scale manipulation.