Promoted Hydride Substitution in BaTiO3 Cubes

Inorg Chem. 2024 Dec 9;63(49):23260-23266. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c03757. Epub 2024 Nov 26.

Abstract

We report the synthesis of perovskite oxyhydride BaTiO3-xHx cubes (100-300 nm) using the topochemical hydride reaction of the hydrothermally synthesized oxide. X-ray and neutron diffraction studies revealed that the anion (hydride/oxide) exchange is greatly improved, leading to a maximum hydride content of 0.7, which is higher than previously reported, while no reaction is seen for those with oleic acid on their surface. These results indicate that the well-defined {100} facets, as well as the absence of organic residues, are crucial for promoting hydrogenation. Kissinger analysis on BaTiO2.3H0.7 yielded an activation energy of 165 kJ/mol, much lower than that of BaTiO2.4H0.6 (313 kJ/mol). In contrast to oxides, oxyhydrides with well-defined facets have not been reported before; thus, this study opens new avenues for the rational synthesis of oxyhydride materials with controlled chemical composition and morphology.