Phase Transition Engineering of Host Perovskite toward Optimal Exsolution-facilitated Catalysts for Carbon Dioxide Electrolysis

The in situ exsolution technique of nanoparticles has brought new opportunities for the utilization of perovskite-based catalysts in solid oxide cells. However, the lack of control over the structural evolution of host perovskites during the promotion of exsolution has restricted the architectural exploitation of exsolution-facilitated perovskites. In this study, we strategically broke the long-standing trade-off phenomenon between promoted exsolution and suppressed phase transition via B-site supplement, thus broadening the scope of exsolution-facilitated perovskite materials. Using carbon dioxide electrolysis as an illustrative case study, we demonstrate that the catalytic activity and stability of perovskites with exsolved nanoparticles (P-eNs) can be selectively enhanced by regulating the explicit phase of host perovskites, accentuating the critical role of the architectures of perovskite scaffold in catalytic reactions occurring on P-eNs. The concept demonstrated could potentially pave the way for designing the advanced exsolution-facilitated P-eNs materials and unveiling a wide range of catalytic chemistry taking place on P-eNs.

Automated summary

The addition of B-sites breaks the trade-off between promoted exsolution and suppressed phase transition, expanding the application range of exsolution-facilitated perovskite materials. Using carbon dioxide electrolysis as a case study, this research shows that the catalytic activity and stability of perovskites with exsolved nanoparticles (P-eNs) can be enhanced by regulating the phase of host perovskites, emphasizing the important role of perovskite scaffold in catalytic reactions occurring on P-eNs. This concept may lead to the design of advanced exsolution-facilitated P-eNs materials and uncover a wide range of catalytic chemistry on P-eNs.