In this contribution, new SrTiO3-based materials have
been developed and their catalytic and electrocatalytic properties
have been tuned by cation insertion, nanocomposition, and infiltration.
The aim is to develop highly functional materials within a critical
raw material-free approach with a particular aim toward durability
and stability [under operating conditions of solid oxide fuel cell
(SOFC) anodes] and activity toward biogas. We started from a sustainable
and durable perovskite, SrTiO3, with the aim of implementing
performances with insertion of Ba and Mo into the crystalline cell.
The catalysts are Ba
x
Sr1–x
Ti1–y
Mo
y
O3, with x = 0 and 0.5
and y = 0, 0.1, and 0.4. Water-based wet chemistry
procedures were developed specifically for each compound to obtain
high purity and control barium and molybdenum insertion into the perovskite
lattice. This result has been successfully obtained by means of a
detailed characterization (X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption, temperature-programmed
reduction, and BrunauerEmmettTeller) carried out during each preparation
steps. We demonstrated that catalytic (methane dry reforming and CO
oxidation is obtained with SrTi0.9Mo0.1O3) and electrocatalytic (of SrTi0.6Mo0.4O3 as the anode in SOFCs) activities can be developed
starting from an economic, sustainable, and robust material. Activity
enhancement was obtained with nickel nanodeposition (wet impregnation
and infiltration).