Structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of LaFe0.5Co0.5O3−δ perovskite
摘要
In this work, LaFe0.5Co0.5O3−δ perovskite was prepared by the sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern showed that the sample exhibits a rhombohedral (R3c) crystal structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of the sample revealed polyhedron structures of various sizes. Detailed analysis of high-resolution TEM image and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern supported the rhombohedral phase formation and confirmed the polycrystalline nature of LaFe0.5Co0.5O3−δ perovskite. The elemental composition of the prepared sample was analyzed by a combination of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and EDS elemental mapping. Additionally, surface area and average pore size of 2.7247 m2/g and 36.356 nm, respectively, were determined from Nitrogen (N2) adsorption-desorption isotherm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) performed for the sample showed the existence of oxygen vacancies and mixed valence states of Fe2+/Fe3+ and Co2+/Co3+. The investigated LaFe0.5Co0.5O3−δ perovskite sample was found to pose a direct band gap energy (Eg) of 1.25 eV, as deduced from diffuse UV-visible reflectance data. Electrochemical results showed that the perovskite sample exhibits pseudocapacitive behavior and that the charge storing in LaFe0.5Co0.5O3−δ electrode is primely facilitated through oxygen intercalation mechanism.