Sm-Eu Co-Doped BiFeO3 Nanoparticles With Superabsorption and Electrochemical Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Yanhong Gu,Xianghui Zhang,Weiying Zhang,Jianguo Zhao,Niu Huang,Hong Jia,Yuanxi Liang,Wanping Chen,Chaoyang Guo

doi:10.3389/fphy.2022.853179

Yanhong Gu, Xianghui Zhang + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2022.853179

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Abstract

Bi0.95Sm0.05Fe1−xEuxO3 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) nanoparticles were prepared via a two-solvent sol–gel method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman results suggested that the main phase of the samples gradually evolved from perovskite phase R3c to orthorhombic phase Pbnm with increasing Eu content and that the optical band gap gradually narrowed from 2.09 to 1.70 eV. Along with the structural change, the ferromagnetic properties were transformed, and interesting double hysteresis loops were observed for the sample where x = 0.1. All the bismuth ferrite (BFO) samples demonstrated extremely strong adsorbability, with the adsorption rate of refractory methyl orange reaching 90% in 5 min. These samples also exhibited superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance, with a desirable onset potential of approximately 1.50 V vs. RHE. For the sample where x = 0.15, to support a current density of 100 mA/cm2, an overpotential of only 294 mV was required, which is much better than that of pure Ni foam (330 mV). More experiments are needed to verify and explore the source and mechanism of the OER performance.

Highlights

In recent years, owing to the magnetoelectric coupling effect, multiferroic materials have been widely applied in the fields of information storage, electronic devices, and sensors, and they have attracted extensive attention from researchers worldwide
The electrocatalytic decomposition of water involves two reactions: the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), both of which are related to electrocatalysts
A 15% Ca-doped Bi0.85Ca0.15FeO3 catalyst showed an increased kinetic current density of 54.562 mA/cm2 at an onset potential of 2.122 (V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) with an overpotential of 0.892 V in an alkaline electrolyte [21]. All of these tests are performed on glassy carbon, but surface chemistry is an important prerequisite for advanced water electrolysis

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, owing to the magnetoelectric coupling effect, multiferroic materials have been widely applied in the fields of information storage, electronic devices, and sensors, and they have attracted extensive attention from researchers worldwide. A 15% Ca-doped Bi0.85Ca0.15FeO3 catalyst showed an increased kinetic current density of 54.562 mA/cm at an onset potential of 2.122 (V vs RHE) with an overpotential of 0.892 V in an alkaline electrolyte [21]. All of these tests are performed on glassy carbon, but surface chemistry is an important prerequisite for advanced water electrolysis. The prepared solution was dried in an oven at 80°C for a few days to obtain a gel, which was ground into a fine powder and calcined in an oven at 600°C for 3 h to remove the organic matter It was ground again and cleaned with dilute nitric acid. All electrochemical measurements were conducted using an electrochemical workstation (CHI760E, Chenhua)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

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