Bimetallic alloys or intermetallic compounds on the surface of (La,Sr,Ce)(Me,Ti)O3 formed via topotactic ion-exchange exsolution

Exsolution is a trendy way to improve the catalytic activity of oxide materials which can be used in SOFCs. It leads to a formation of metallic nanoparticles well socketed to the oxide support and therefore resistive to agglomeration. In contradiction to the simultaneous exsolution of at least two types of ions from the oxide structure, the topotactic ion-exchange exsolution produces the layered perovskite without B-site vacancies, thereby preserving the atomic connectivity of the B–O–B network for efficient oxygen transport and electron conduction. The aim of this proposal is to investigate nanometric alloys or intermetallic compounds consisting of Ni/Fe/Co/Cu which were formed on the surface of (La,Sr,Ce)TiO3-based host material. The measurements of X-ray absorption will reveal the local structure and valence state of the transition metals in formed nanometric alloys of intermetallic compounds on the surface, as well as the valence of the elements in the perovskite host oxide.