Ge alloying shifts the reaction profile to more exergonic values due to the greater oxophilicity of Ge, as depicted in Figure . Remarkably, ΔGO* is reduced to 0 eV in Pt4Ge4, where O* is binded to Ge, while in Pt7Ge and Pt6Ge2, ΔGOH* becomes negative (ΔGOH* = -0.06 eV and -0.16 eV). Since OH* is the most favorable species as a result of this overbinding, the catalyst surface will get covered with OH*, limiting the ORR activity.