October 10, 2024
Journal Article

Contribution of the Sub-Surface to Electrocatalytic Activity in Atomically Precise La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Heterostructures

Abstract

Electrocatalytic reactions are known to take place at the catalyst/electrolyte interface. Whereas recent studies of size-dependent activity in nanoparticles and thickness-dependent activity of thin films imply that the sub-surface layers of a catalyst can contribute to the catalytic activity as well, most of these studies consider actual modification of the surfaces. In this study, we investigate the role of a catalytically active sub-surface layers by employing atomic-scale thickness control of the La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) films and heterostructures, without altering the catalyst/electrolyte interface. The activity of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) shows a non-monotonic thickness dependence in the LSMO films and a continuous screening effect in LSMO/SrRuO3 heterostructures, which allowed us to define an “electrochemically-relevant depth” on the order of 10 unit cells. Our study on the electrocatalytic activity of epitaxial heterostructures provides new insight in designing efficient electrocatalytic nanomaterials and core-shell architectures.

Published: October 10, 2024

Citation

Lee J., P.P. Adiga, S.A. Lee, S. Hyun Nam, H. Ju, M. Jung, and H. Young Jeong, et al. 2021. Contribution of the Sub-Surface to Electrocatalytic Activity in Atomically Precise La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Heterostructures. Small 17, no. 49:Art. No. 2103632. PNNL-SA-166709. doi:10.1002/smll.202103632

Research topics