Enhanced electrocatalytic activity via phase transitions in strongly correlated SrRuO3 thin films

TL;DR

This study reveals how phase transitions in strongly correlated SrRuO3 thin films can significantly enhance oxygen evolution reaction activity by modifying electronic structures through vacancy engineering.

Contribution

It demonstrates that inducing phase transitions via Ru-O vacancy engineering in SrRuO3 thin films enhances OER activity, highlighting the role of electronic structure modifications.

Findings

30% decrease in OER overpotential achieved

Phase transitions correlate with improved electrochemical activity

Electronic structure modifications are key to activity enhancement

Abstract

Transition metal oxides have been extensively studied and utilized as efficient catalysts. However, the strongly correlated behavior which often results in intriguing emergent phenomena in these materials has been mostly overlooked in understanding the electrochemical activities. Here, we demonstrate a close correlation between the phase transitions and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a strongly correlated SrRuO3. By systematically introducing Ru-O vacancies into the single-crystalline SrRuO3 epitaxial thin films, we induced phase transition in crystalline symmetry which resulted in corresponding modification in the electronic structure. The modified electronic structure significantly affect the electrochemical activities, so a 30% decrease in the overpotential for the OER activity was achieved. Our study suggests that a substantial enhancement in the OER activity can be realized even within single material systems, by rational design and engineering of their crystal and electronic structures.