Abstract
Three-dimensional electron diffraction (3DED) has revolutionized the study of crystalline materials, allowing researchers to solve crystal structures from nanometer sized crystals. Traditionally, 3DED experiments are conducted under high-vacuum conditions, where samples are isolated from environmental factors, enabling precise analysis of stable structures. However, such an approach often falls short when it comes to capturing dynamic processes, transient states, or reactions that occur under realistic operating conditions. This gap has driven the development of in situ 3DED techniques, where materials are studied in their native or reactive environments, providing valuable insights into structure-property relations under real-world conditions. In this project, the possibility is explored of acquiring in situ 3D ED data during electrocatalytic reactions.
The perovskite-based Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-x is chosen for these pioneering explorations due to its outstanding activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solutions. The transformation of this material during the OER process is still under discussion, with several suggestions in literature but none proven. In-situ 3D ED is the perfect technique to unravel the nanoscale structural changes in this material, catalyzing a further improvement of the properties of the material as an electrocatalyst.
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