Synthesis of highly porous LaCoO3 catalyst by Nanocasting and its performance for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions in alkaline solution.

Highly porous LaCoO₃ perovskite was synthesized by a nanocasting method using a mesoporous silica template and subsequently applied as a bifunctional catalyst for the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions in alkaline solution. The La-Co citrate complex was mixed a porous SBA-15 silica template, and then, calcinated at 650 °C to prepare a LaCoO₃/SBA-15 composite. Highly porous LaCoO₃ was prepared by treating this composite with NaOH to remove the SBA-15 silica template. The obtained LaCoO₃ showed a very rough surface, high surface area, and relatively small particle size compared with LaCoO₃ prepared by the sol-gel method. The catalytic performance of the highly porous LaCoO₃ for the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions was electrochemically measured in alkaline solution. LaCoO₃ prepared by the nanocasting exhibited higher cell performance than that prepared by sol-gel method due to its larger surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]