Pyrochlore Oxide Decorated with Exsolved Metal Nanoparticles for Enhanced Water Splitting Reaction

Abstract

Recently, we reported hybrid catalysts consist of metal nanoparticles on a metal oxide support for water splitting reaction, which is synthesized through an in situ exsolution process of metallic nanoparticles on pyrochlore oxide material.1,2 Specifically, we prepared Ni substituted lead ruthenate pyrochlore oxide (Pb2Ru1.6Ni0.4O6.5) via sol-gel crystallization and reduce the samples at different temperatures. Ni nanoparticles supported pyrochlore oxide catalyst significantly accelerate the conversion of Ni to NiOOH due to favorable electron transfer during the oxygen evolution reaction. The hybrid catalyst of pyrochlore oxide with NiRu alloy nanoparticles exhibits superior hydrogen evolution reaction performance, resulting from the bifunctional reaction mechanism, modified electronic structure, and efficient electron transport. Consequently, remarkable water electrolysis performance with superior long-term stability was obtained at the hybrid catalysts.