Study of LaFeO3-based perovskite materials doped with Ni

Perovskite based materials such as LaFeO3, with sub-stoichiometric A-site and doped with different content of Ba, Ca, Ni, Mo, undergoing Ni exsolution on the surface are promising candidates as cathodes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). The catalytic activity, conductivity, and stability of the cathode can all be enhanced by introducing Ni nanoparticles on the perovskite surface. To rationally understand and optimize these materials, several experimental investigations can be conducted. We propose High-Resolution Fluorescence-Detected XANES (HERFD-XANES) to understand variations in the valences of B-site metals induced by A-site defectivity, measurements to elucidate the local distortion and mutual tilting of BO6 octahedra as a function of the concentration of exsolved Ni and the oxidation state of B-site metals.