A Self-Healing Oxygen-Evolving Catalyst

A cobalt-phosphate water-oxidizing catalyst forms from the oxidation of Co(2+) to Co(3+) in the presence of phosphate. We have employed radioactive (57)Co and (32)P isotopes to probe the dynamics of this catalyst during water-oxidation catalysis. We show that the catalyst is self-healing and that phosphate is the crucial factor responsible for repair.