Engineering surface and morphology of La/WO3 for electrochemical oxygen reduction. Issue 13 (17th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ramani, Swetha; Yin, Zhewen; Miller, Bradley; Bhethanabotla, Venkat R.; Kuhn, John N.
• Is Part Of: CrystEngComm. Volume 22:Issue 13(2020)
• Page Start: 2397
• Page End: 2405
• Publication Date: 2020-03-17
• Subjects: Crystals -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Crystallography -- Periodicals; Cristaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Cristallographie -- Périodiques; 548
• DOI: 10.1039/d0ce00073f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-8033

Abstract

Abstract : Lanthanum derived crystal and defect engineering for enhanced ORR performance in WO3 . Abstract : Altering the surface electronic properties of non-precious electrocatalysts via metal incorporation is an effective approach towards enhancing the oxygen reduction performance. Here, we explored the effect of introducing a rare-earth metal (La up to 20 mole%) in WO3 using a novel crystal engineering strategy. Incorporation of La resulted in coalescence of randomly oriented nanoparticles directed towards one-dimensional growth into nanorods, exposing a preferential high catalytic active facet (002) of WO3 . Simultaneously, introduction of La induced the formation of oxygen vacancies at the surface, which coincided with increased hydroxyl adsorption. Benefitting from a combined effect of highly active facet and increased density of surface vacancies, 10% La exhibited two times higher current than pure WO3 . An improvement of 90 mV in onset potential highlights the prospects of La addition on electrochemical activity of metal oxides.