Enhanced Electrocatalysts Fabricated via Quenched Ultrafast Sintering: Physicochemical Properties and Water Oxidation Applications

The synthesis of transition metal oxides is typically time- and energy-consuming. Recently, fast sintering methods have demonstrated great potential in reducing ceramic time energy use, improving the commercial prospects these materials. In this article, a quenched ultrafast high-temperature (qUHS) technique developed to sinter metastable brownmillerite SrCoO2.5 (SCO) less than minute. Surprisingly, SCO fabricated by qUHS shows higher activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) solid-state-reaction-synthesized SCO. Comparing samples produced two techniques, increased OER performance likely due synergistic combination surface Co chemical state, mesoporosity, enhanced hydroxyl ion (OH–) adsorption. This work demonstrates producing high-performance electrocatalysts provides detailed insights into impact on materials’ physical properties electrocatalytic activity.