Thermodynamic limitations compound the challenges of the PCET process. Each intermediate has a distinct Gibbs free energy change (ΔG), with at least one step becoming the rate-determining step (RDS). For most materials, the RDS lies between the formation of *O and *OOH intermediates, requiring significant energy input to proceed. This necessitates high applied potentials to drive the reaction, reducing efficiency. Efforts to overcome these limitations focus on designing catalysts with optimal binding energies for intermediates, as predicted by the Sabatier principle, to reduce the thermodynamic penalty associated with PCET . However, achieving the delicate balance of binding strength remains a formidable challenge in advancing OER kinetics.