Impact of Surface Defects on LaNiO₃ Perovskite Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

LaNiO₃ perovskite electrocatalysts have been prepared by a sol-gel protocol. Subsequent calcination at 700 °C yields a macroporous material with modest surface area. Hydrogen reduction induces surface defects, in particular a high concentration of surface oxygen vacancies. The resulting electrocatalyst exhibits a significantly higher current density at lower overpotential, with faster kinetics and superior stability for oxygen evolution for water splitting.

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