Ion Beam as an External and Dynamic Metal Reservoir to Induce Nanoparticle Exsolution in Oxides

Abstract

Nanoparticle exsolution is a recently developed method to produce oxide-supported metal nanoparticles via phase precipitation. It has attracted significant attention in the field of solid oxide fuel cells and electrolyzers (SOFC/SOEC) due to its potential for producing active and nanostructured electrodes. However, conventional exsolution methods face challenges in reaching the solubility limit of metal ions in the oxide matrix. To overcome this issue, here we propose a new approach to induce exsolution by using ion beams as an external and dynamic metal reservoir. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this method by using thin-film Zr0.5Ce0.5O2 (CZO) as a model system. Through ion irradiation experiments, 10 keV Ni ions were implanted into the near-surface regions of CZO films, and then exsolved as nanoparticles on the surface. This research offers a promising new avenue for developing next-generation SOFC/SOEC electrode materials using irradiation-tailored exsolution.