“…Furthermore, in the IR spectrum of I (Figure ) the absorption bands corresponding to ν(WO) and ν(W–O–W) of CoW 12 appeared at 935 and 873 cm –1 , respectively, and were largely red-shifted from those of pristine CoW 12 (ν(WO): 945 cm –1 and ν(W–O–W): 877 cm –1 ). On the other hand, ν(Cr 3 –O) bands of Cr-CN in I appeared at 660 cm –1 and were largely blue-shifted from those of pristine Cr-CN (652 cm –1 ). , These results suggest that upon forming I the W–O bonds in CoW 12 are weakened due to the increased electron density, while the Cr 3 –O bonds in Cr-CN are strengthened due to the decreased electron density. , These observations, together with the XPS results (Figure ), confirm that charge transfer occurs from Cr-CN to CoW 12 in I . We postulate that the synergetic OER catalysis in I originates from this charge transfer, leading to the increased electron density and upshifted Fermi level of CoW 12 , which enables the OER catalysis of I . − So far, the enhanced OER activity of Co-POM-based nanocomposites has been believed to be attributable to synergetic effects involving a redistribution of electrons in the nanocomposites, but the mechanistic detail remains unclear. , We have experimentally demonstrated that the charge transfer from Cr-CN to CoW 12 is an important factor for understanding the synergetic OER catalysis of I .…”