Surface Chemistry Research Articles

Comprehensive study of plasma polymerization parameters on thiol-coated LDPE films for effective fibronectin adsorption targeting biomedical applications

In the realm of biomedical applications, biocompatible materials with optimized surface properties are crucial for facilitating cellular interactions. To attain the perfect balance of these properties, surface modification of non-toxic and stable bulk materials is often required. Within this context, this research aimed to improve the physiochemical and cell-responsive properties of a low-density polyethylene film. This was achieved by depositing thiol-rich coatings using a dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor operating at medium pressures, with 1-propanethiol serving as polymerization precursor. The study systematically investigated the impact of key plasma polymerization parameters, including DBD chamber pressure, treatment time, and the combination of precursor flow rate and discharge power represented by the Yasuda parameter, to identify optimal plasma processing conditions for the formation of thiol-rich coatings. To characterize the coating thickness, hydrophilicity and surface chemical composition, atomic force microscopy, water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed. The findings indicated that reducing the chamber pressure to 10 kPa led to more hydrophilic and thicker deposits possessing a higher sulphur content. Deposition time (5 to 15 min) also significantly impacted coating thickness and surface chemistry, where long times increased thickness, but also led to a reduced sulphur and increased oxygen content because of more pronounced etching. The optimal deposition time was therefore set at 10 min resulting in the deposition of dense coatings possessing a high number of sulphur-containing functionalities. The Yasuda parameter (W/FM) analysis demonstrated optimal thiol incorporation in combination with high coating stability at an intermediate W/FM value of 72 MJ/kg. Following the determination of the optimal plasma polymerization parameters, the effectiveness of thiol plasma polymerization and subsequent fibronectin immobilization for enhancing cell adhesion and proliferation was investigated. The thiol-coated substrates were found to exhibit superior protein immobilization, because of the high affinity for protein binding of the available thiol groups. To assess cellular responses, Schwann cells were cultured on uncoated and coated samples before and after fibronectin immobilization. The results revealed a superior cellular response of the thiol-coated samples after fibronectin immobilization, showing the highest cell viability and significantly enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation. Collectively, these results underscore the synergistic effect of thiol plasma polymerization and fibronectin immobilization in promoting the cellular response of LDPE substrates, thus highlighting their potential as a surface modification strategy of biomaterials.

Molecular surface coverage standards by reference-free GIXRF supporting SERS and SEIRA substrate benchmarking

Abstract Non-destructive reference-free grazing incidence X-ray fluorescence (RF-GIXRF) is proposed as a highly effective analytical technique for extracting molecular arrangement density in self-assembled monolayers. The establishment of surface density standards through RF-GIXRF impacts various applications, from calibrating laboratory XRF setups to expanding its applicability in materials science, particularly in surface coating scenarios with molecular assemblies. Accurate determination of coverage density is crucial for proper functionalization and interaction, such as in assessing the surface concentration of probes on plasmonic nanostructures. However, limited synchrotron radiation access hinders widespread use, prompting the need for molecular surface density standards, especially for benchmarking substrates for surface-enhanced Raman and infrared absorption spectroscopies (SERS and SEIRA) as well as associated surface-enhanced techniques. Using reproducible densities on gold ensures a solid evaluation of the number of molecules contributing to enhanced signals, facilitating comparability across substrates. The research discusses the importance of employing molecular surface density standards for advancing the field of surface-enhanced spectroscopies, encouraging collaborative efforts in protocol development and benchmarking in surface science.

Deep Learning-Based Kinetic Analysis in Paper-Based Analytical Cartridges Integrated with Field-Effect Transistors.

This study explores the fusion of a field-effect transistor (FET), a paper-based analytical cartridge, and the computational power of deep learning (DL) for quantitative biosensing via kinetic analyses. The FET sensors address the low sensitivity challenge observed in paper analytical devices, enabling electrical measurements with kinetic data. The paper-based cartridge eliminates the need for surface chemistry required in FET sensors, ensuring economical operation (cost < $0.15/test). The DL analysis mitigates chronic challenges of FET biosensors such as sample matrix interference, by leveraging kinetic data from target-specific bioreactions. In our proof-of-concept demonstration, our DL-based analyses showcased a coefficient of variation of <6.46% and a decent concentration measurement correlation with an r2 value of >0.976 for cholesterol testing when blindly compared to results obtained from a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory. These integrated technologies have the potential to advance FET-based biosensors, potentially transforming point-of-care diagnostics and at-home testing through enhanced accessibility, ease-of-use, and accuracy.

Microbially controlled colloidal shaping of advanced ceramics

Advanced ceramics find applications in aerospace, energy harvesting and medical technologies. Despite their unique properties, the controlled manufacturing of ceramics with complex geometries is a recurring challenge in the field. Here, a novel manufacturing platform is reported for the colloidal shaping of advanced ceramics using the metabolism of living microorganisms. In this method, bacteria are employed to change the pH of colloidal suspensions in situ, thus enabling casting and time-delayed coagulation of ceramic wet parts in complex-shaped molds. Two distinct bacteria, S. pasteurii and E. coli, are used to investigate the coagulation kinetics of the fabrication process using alumina and zirconia as representative examples of ceramic particles with distinct surface chemistries. The experimental results reveal that the metabolism of bacteria provide an effective mechanism to generate strong ceramic parts with controllable coagulation speed combined with the cost-effective recovery of the microorganisms. These unique features illustrate the potential of engineered living materials for the manufacturing of advanced ceramics.

Ti3C2Tx/Bi2WO6 composite nanomaterials for triethylamine detection at room temperature

Low-power triethylamine (TEA) detection at room temperature (RT) is becoming increasingly significant in practical scenarios. As a novel two-dimensional material, Ti3C2Tx MXene has a high potential in the field of chemical sensing at RT. It is essential to acquire the composition of the surface functional groups for Ti3C2Tx since the surface chemistry is crucial for a strong interplay between the target gas and Ti3C2Tx. In this work, the surface functional groups were quantitatively evaluated (approximately 40 % -O, 60 % -F) based on the combined usage of XPS analysis and DFT simulations. Ti3C2F1.2O0.8 was determined to be metallic according to the calculated total density of states and band structure. A metal-semiconductor-type composite nanostructures based on the single/few-layer Ti3C2Tx and Bi2WO6 microcages were fabricated with different Ti3C2Tx mass percentages. 0.1 wt% Ti3C2Tx/Bi2WO6 composite demonstrates a response enhancement by 52 % compared with the pristine Bi2WO6 in the detection of 500 ppm TEA at RT. Besides, the sensitization mechanism is ascribed to the abundant surface functional groups and the catalytic effect of Ti3C2Tx.

Enhancing electrochemical performance of graphene oxide/polyaniline composite through plasma-assisted chemical cross-linking and surface modification

The composite of graphene oxide (GO) and polyaniline (PANI) is a promising electrode material for supercapacitors. A high loading of PANI can provide large specific capacitance, but it is a pervasive challenge to reconcile long-term cycling stability and high-rate discharge. Herein, we focus on a GO/PANI composite with low PANI content (∼25 wt%), developing a stable network of GO with an even distribution of PANI. Moreover, significantly enhanced electrochemical performance is achieved by utilizing plasma technology. The specific capacitance increases by 99 % to 433 F g−1 at 1.5 A g−1 after Argon (Ar) plasma treatment. Even at 15 A g−1, a capacitance retention rate of 91 % is obtained. After 15,000 cycles, the capacitance retention rate is 93 %, surpassing most previously reported GO/PANI composite electrodes. The further assembled all-solid-state supercapacitors can deliver a high energy density of 13.6 Wh kg−1 and exceptional cycling stability. According to results of characterization, it is demonstrated that Ar plasma imparts GO/PANI better surface morphology and achieves etching, reduction of GO, and cross-linking of GO and PANI, thereby activating the electrochemical activities of GO and PANI while ensuring stability. In this regard, the synergistic effects of cross-linking, reduction, and etching, and the mechanism are theoretically illustrated by dynamic differential equations. This work presents plasma processing unique charm for designing graphene-based materials via a customized strategy, exploiting an effectual approach to drive the applications of graphene-based materials in energy storage.

A parametric study on chemical activator selection and soaking procedure development for barium incorporation in concurrent activated and surface modified palm kernel shell derived activated carbon

The concurrent activation and surface modification (CAM) process is an integrated process used to synthesise palm kernel shell derived activated carbon (PKSdAC) in this study. CAM involves chemical activation and surface modification via metal impregnation in one process. This study investigated the usage of different acids as chemical activators and different soaking procedures for impregnating barium (Ba) in CAM-PKSdAC. It shows that chemical impregnation of PKS using 10% sulphuric acid (H2SO4) mass loading via two soaking steps can impregnate a high Ba amount of 0.86–2.98 wt. % in CAM-PKSdAC, compared to one soaking step. The two soaking steps procedure reduced the overage formation of BaSO4 from sealing the pores of PKS. Comparing HCl and H2SO4, at 30% acid mass loading, the impregnation of PKS with H2SO4 produced a higher impregnated Ba amount in CAM-PKSdAC. BaSO4 generated from the reaction between H2SO4 on the PKS surface with BaCl2 solution causes a reduction reaction at high temperatures. BaSO4 reacted with a carbon-reducing agent and is reduced to barium sulphide (BaS), impregnating Ba on CAM-PKSdAC. In conclusion, H2SO4 was found to be the suitable chemical activator with two soaking steps for the CAM process.

Predicting Sodium-Ion Battery Performance through Surface Chemistry Analysis and Textural Properties of Functionalized Hard Carbons Using AI.

Traditionally, the performance of sodium-ion batteries has been predicted based on a single characteristic of the electrodes and its relationship to specific capacity increase. However, recent studies have shown that this hypothesis is incorrect because their performance depends on multiple physical and chemical variables. Due to the above, the present communication shows machine learning as an innovative strategy to predict the performance of functionalized hard carbon anodes prepared from grapefruit peels. In this sense, a three-layer feed-forward Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was designed. The inputs used to feed the ANN were the physicochemical characteristics of the materials, which consisted of mercury intrusion porosimetry data (SHg and average pore), elemental analysis (C, H, N, S), ID/IG ratio obtained from RAMAN studies, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy data of the C1s, N1s, and O1s regions. In addition, two more inputs were added: the cycle number and the applied C-rate. The ANN architecture consisted of a first hidden layer with a sigmoid transfer function and a second layer with a log-sigmoid transfer function. Finally, a sigmoid transfer function was used in the output layer. Each layer had 10 neurons. The training algorithm used was Bayesian regularization. The results show that the proposed ANN correctly predicts (R2 > 0.99) the performance of all materials. The proposed strategy provides critical insights into the variables that must be controlled during material synthesis to optimize the process and accelerate progress in developing tailored materials.

LEED-IV analyses of tellurium adsorbate structures on iridium and gold surfaces

The determination of the configuration of atomic adsorbates on clean metal surfaces has been a key issue in surface science 60 years ago and still is today. We demonstrate that despite the prevalence of combined scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory studies of adsorbate systems the pitfalls are plentiful calling for accurate, reliable structure analyses that can be delivered by diffraction methods. We analyze and compare the ordered phases of Te on Ir(111), Ir(100), and Au(100) demonstrating the accuracy, the in-depth information and physical insight that can nowadays be obtained by quantitative low-energy electron diffraction structural analyses.

A new insight on surface chemistry and redox species of transition metal (Fe, Mn) doped CeO2-SnO2/Al2O3 nanocomposites for automobile emission control

The ceria-tin/alumina mixed metal oxides (Ce/Sn =1) with different proportions of Fe & Mn dopants were synthesized and investigated in detailed approach for diesel emission reduction. The dopants created structural defects enhancing the oxygen ion mobility for exhaust treatment. The existence of surface-active oxygen sites and oxygen ion vacancy sites generated for charge compensation due to reduction of Ce4+, Sn4+ and dopants incorporation evidenced from XPS analysis. The Mn doped sample holds better physicochemical properties than Fe doped sample. The Mn doped sample with higher surface area of about 101.32 m2 g−1 exhibits greater active sites for better catalytic activity. The redox couples in the Mn-doped sample Ce4+/Ce3+, Sn4+/Sn2+, and Mn3+/Mn2+ helps in oxygen regeneration to contribute to exhaust treatment by oxygen ion conduction from bulk to the surface. This sample exhibited the 92 % of NOx reduction and proved to be a dynamic candidate for diesel emission reduction.

Fabrication and performance optimization of an advanced pervaporation desalination membrane: A study utilizing PVDF and hydrophilic active layer as composite

Pervaporation emerges as a promising technique for brine treatment. In this investigation, we employed a PVDF substrate layer and applied various coating solutions using a simple spray technique to produce a composite pervaporation membrane. The composite membrane's chemical structure, morphology, hydrophilicity, swelling property, surface roughness, and crosslinking conditions were thoroughly investigated. Notably, the PVDF/PEI/P(SS-MA) composite membrane exhibited outstanding desalination performance, demonstrating high salt rejection and flux of 308.7 ± 13.8 kg m−2 h−1 when subjected to a 3.5 wt% sodium chloride solution. Even at an elevated brine concentration of 20 wt%, the membrane maintained a commendable flux of 88.76 ± 5.4 kg m−2 h−1 at 72 °C. These findings underscore the efficacy of the developed composite membrane for brine desalination applications.

Inorganic-organic hybrid heterogeneous membrane for zinc protective layers in high-performance aqueous zinc ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion Batteries (AZIBs) suffer from stability and performance limitations due to challenges related to the zinc (Zn) metal anode, including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), metal corrosion, and Zn dendrite formation. To mitigate these issues, researchers are developing innovative coatings and protective layers for Zn anodes, focusing on enhancing ion conductivity, electrochemical inertness, mechanical strength, and processability. Hybrid organic-inorganic heterostructure coating materials with silver nanowires (Ag NWs) encapsulated with Polypyrrole (Ag/PPy) have shown promise in addressing these challenges. The Zn anode coated with Ag/PPy layers and paired with an α-MnO2 cathode, achieved an impressive initial capacity of 302 mAh/g at a current density of 0.5 A/g. Remarkably, it retained a substantial capacity of 283 mAh/g after 300 cycles at a current density of 0.5 A/g, demonstrating a 94 % capacity retention rate. Moreover, the symmetry cell using this anode maintains stable Zn deposition/stripping overpotentials even at a high current density (a rate of 10C) for over 175 h. These findings highlight the potential of Ag/PPy coatings as a viable approach for enhancing the surface chemistry and physical properties of the Zn metal anode, paving the way for a wider use of AZIBs.

Reduction of a two-dimensional crystalline MoO3 monolayer

The atomic structure of MoOx films formed upon a gradual thermal reduction of an ordered MoO3 monolayer on the Pd(100) substrate was explored via surface science characterization techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Two main reduction stages were identified. First, the initial oxygen excess was gradually eliminated by altering the domain boundary length, orientation, and atomic structure. The films nevertheless remained O-rich, with numerous terminal oxygen atoms (formation of MoO groups), and an elevated work function. Second, multiple ordered O-lean phases were formed, characterized by either very few or no terminal oxygen atoms, and a much smaller surface work function. According to calculations, the positive charging of the Pd substrate stabilizes the oxygen excess during the first stage, but during the second reduction stage, the substrate becomes negatively charged, stabilizing enhanced cation oxidation states. On their basis, the mechanisms underlying the oxygen release from the initial c(2 × 2) domains were disclosed. The experiments showed that the film reduction is perfectly reversible, which highlights the very promising properties of the MoO3/Pd system for heterogeneous catalysis.

CO adsorption mechanisms on transition metal surfaces and factors influencing the adsorption

CO adsorption on transition metal (TM) surfaces has been extensively studied. Compared to the "vertical adsorption" (CO⊥M) in which the C–O bond is normal to the surface with the C bonded to the surface, few studies are devoted to the "parallel mode" (CO||M) where the C–O bond is (near) parallel to the surface with both C and O atoms interacting with the surface. Here we report density functional calculations of CO adsorption on the stable surfaces of 27 TMs. The results show that CO adsorbs only in CO⊥M mode on IB, IIB, VIIB and VIII TMs while both CO⊥M and CO||M modes exist on IIIB to VIB TMs, with CO||M being more stable. Overlap population analysis reveals that the interactions between metal d AOs and O 2p AOs dominate the CO||M mode where the CO π bond is greatly weakened, resulting in significantly activated CO. The adsorption mode and adsorption energy can be tuned by ensemble effect, lattice strain and crystal structure, while the ligand effect is weak and is not able to change the adsorption mode of CO. The present work demonstrates that ensemble effect, lattice strain and crystal structure can be utilized to modify surface chemistry and promote catalytic performance effectively.

Programmable 2D materials through shape-controlled capillary forces

In recent years, self-assembly has emerged as a powerful tool for fabricating functional materials. Since self-assembly is fundamentally determined by the particle interactions in the system, if we can gain full control over these interactions, it would open the door for creating functional materials by design. In this paper, we exploit capillary interactions between colloidal particles at liquid interfaces to create two-dimensional (2D) materials where particle interactions and self-assembly can be fully programmed using particle shape alone. Specifically, we consider colloidal particles which are polygonal plates with homogeneous surface chemistry and undulating edges as this particle geometry gives us precise and independent control over both short-range hard-core repulsions and longer-range capillary interactions. To illustrate the immense potential provided by our system for programming self-assembly, we use minimum energy calculations and Monte Carlo simulations to show that polygonal plates with different in-plane shapes (hexagons, truncated triangles, triangles, squares) and edge undulations of different multipolar order (hexapolar, octopolar, dodecapolar) can be used to create a rich variety of 2D structures, including hexagonal close-packed, honeycomb, Kagome, and quasicrystal lattices. Since the required particle shapes can be readily fabricated experimentally, we can use our colloidal system to control the entire process chain for materials design, from initial design and fabrication of the building blocks, to final assembly of the emergent 2D material.

Investigating the impact of various etching agents on Ti3C2Tx MXene synthesis for electrochemical energy conversion

MXenes represent a revolutionary class of two-dimensional (2D) materials that have garnered significant attention due to their unique properties, including excellent electrical conductivity, and remarkable mechanical strength. This study investigates the influence of different etching agents on the synthesis of MXenes for electrochemical energy conversion applications, particularly in methanol oxidation reactions (MOR). Morphological characterization, particle distribution and sizing, elemental analysis, and surface chemistry assessments were conducted using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), elemental mapping, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), Tafel analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and long-term stability assessment were employed. The study reveals that PtRu/MXene synthesized with the FeF3/HCl etching route exhibits the highest ECSA value and peak current density, being 12.3 times and 3.63 times higher than those achieved via the LiF/HCl etching route. The kinetic rate, tolerance to catalyst poisoning and long-term stability also show the better results for this etching route. These findings suggest promising potential for PtRu/MXene_FeF3/HCl as an effective anodic electrocatalyst in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications.

Chemically Bonded Biphase Coating of Ni-Rich Layered Oxides with Enhanced High-Voltage Tolerance and Long-Cycle Stability.

Stabilizing the crystalline structure and surface chemistry of Ni-rich layered oxides is critical for enhancing their capacity output and cycle life at a high cutoff voltage. Herein, we adopted a simple one-step solid-state method by directly sintering the Ni0.9Co0.1(OH)2 precursor with LiOH and Ta2O5, to simultaneously achieve the bulk material synthesis of LiNi0.9Co0.1O2 and in situ construction of a rock-salt Ta-doped interphase and an amorphous LiTaO3 outer layer, forming a chemically bonded surface biphase coating on LiNi0.9Co0.1O2. Such a cathode architectural design has been demonstrated with superior advantages: (1) eliminating surface residual alkali, (2) strengthening the layered oxygen lattice, (3) suppressing bulk-phase transformation, and (4) facilitating Li-ion transport. The obtained cathode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, including a high initial reversible capacity of 180.3 mAh g-1 at 1.0 C with 85.5% retention after 300 cycles (2.8-4.35 V) and a high initial reversible capacity of 182.5 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C with 87.6% retention after 100 cycles (2.8-4.5 V). Notably, this facile and scalable electrode engineering makes Ni-rich layered oxides promising for practical applications.

Construction of zwitterionic surface of PVDF hollow fiber membrane and the study on the mechanism of “autonomy-response” synergistic enhancement anti-fouling

In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/styryl maleic anhydride (SMA) hollow fiber membrane was fabricated using the Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) technique. Subsequently, zwitterion-sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) was introduced to the membrane surface through a Michael addition reaction to create a nearly electrically neutral membrane surface. This modification effectively mitigated the high adsorption of differently charged protein pollutants on the membrane surface, thereby enhancing its anti-fouling performance. Simultaneously, the membrane surfaces with positive and negative charges were separately constructed, and the impact of membrane surface charge properties on the anti-fouling performance against positively and negatively charged foulants was investigated. Furthermore, detailed studies were conducted on the chemical structure, surface morphology, performance, and anti-fouling mechanism of the modified membranes. The results indicate that the electrically neutral membrane modified by zwitterionic SBMA exhibited excellent anti-fouling properties against both bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LYZ), with a flux recovery rate (FRR) reaching 96.5 % and 94.6 %, respectively. The static adsorption capacities of BSA and LYZ on the membrane surface decreased to 5.89 μg cm−2 and 9.53 μg cm−2, respectively. Furthermore, the study investigated the structure of the hydration layer formed by zwitterionic SBMA on the membrane surface, as well as its hydration capacity and anti-fouling mechanism. Subsequently, through an assessment of the long-term stability of the modified membrane and its flux recovery rate (FRR), in conjunction with theories related to hydration layers and thermodynamics, it elucidated the anti-fouling mechanism involving “autonomy-response” synergistic enhancement of zwitterions. These findings will offer new strategies for researching hollow fiber membranes with superior anti-fouling properties and for applying zwitterions in membrane technology.

A strategy to reutilize silver nanoparticles on silicon nanowires via photocathodic activation for enhanced and sustainable hydrogen evolution

The development of electrodes for hydrogen evolution via water splitting in a neutral electrolyte is highly desirable, especially considering that natural water resources such as seawater typically have a neutral pH. In this study, silicon nanowires (SiNWs) arrays with uniform silver (Ag) decoration are prepared as a cathode material, which exhibits excellent and stable electrochemical performance for neutral water electrolysis. Ag ions, utilized in the preparation of SiNWs through metal-assisted chemical etching technique, are retained and decorated within the SiNWs array without undergoing a dissolution process, referred to as Native SiNWs. Remained Ag+ ions on the SiNWs are activated photocathodically and reduced to Ag0, resulting in a significantly enhanced performance as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Hence, this photocathodic activation of Native SiNWs (PCA-Native SiNWs) eliminates the need for additional cocatalyst deposition for HER, utilizing the Ag ions employed in the SiNWs preparation process. This enhancement in HER activity is exclusively observed by photocathodic activation, not by cathodic activation without light irradiation, indicating the crucial role of photoelectrons in SiNWs under light irradiation for the activation. Additionally, the nanowire structure serves as an ideal platform for Ag nanoparticles, providing sufficient surface area, resulting in excellent dispersion and an increased number of active sites. Furthermore, PCA-Native SiNWs demonstrates outstanding electrochemical stability for over 60 h, with no significant reduction in current density or structural degradation in a neutral electrolyte. Several characterizations and electrochemical analyses have been conducted to elucidate the in-situ decoration of Ag nanoparticles on SiNWs and investigate the surface chemistry for the activation mechanism. This work introduces a new perspective on using Ag-decorated SiNWs directly as an electrocatalyst for effective hydrogen evolution in a neutral media.

Investigating the impact of strontium doping on neodymium manganite Nanoperovskites: Analysis of structural, optical, and dielectric properties

Nd1-xSrxMnO3 (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7) nanoperovskites were fabricated through combustion process, a low-cost technique in contrast to the vacuum methodologies for growth. The singular phase orthorhombic Pbnm crystallized for x = 0 to 0.5; nevertheless, both orthorhombic and monoclinic phases were discerned at x = 0.7. Employing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra, the surface chemistry has been conducted, encompassing the intricate parameters associated with the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).The BDS analysis at ambient temperature, encompassing the frequency span from 1 Hz to 1000 KHz, elucidates various facets of dielectric properties. Elevated dielectric constants at the low-frequency spectrum are explained by the Maxwell–Wagner effect. With an escalation in doping concentration, there is a concurrent rise in the dielectric constant. The escalation in AC conductivity within the high-frequency domain conforms to Johnscher's universal power law, whereas the ramifications of electrode polarization are delineated through a log-log representation.