Epitaxial Films as Model Platform for Understanding Compositionally Complex Electrocatalysts
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1866912923195015168 |
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| author | Kar, Satyakam Perez-Mendoza, Alejandro E. Xiu, Huixin Joo, Miran Yusenko, Kirill V. Hagemann, Ulrich Somsen, Christoph Pfetzing-Micklich, Janine Scheu, Christina Andronescu, Corina Ludwig, Alfred |
| author_facet | Kar, Satyakam Perez-Mendoza, Alejandro E. Xiu, Huixin Joo, Miran Yusenko, Kirill V. Hagemann, Ulrich Somsen, Christoph Pfetzing-Micklich, Janine Scheu, Christina Andronescu, Corina Ludwig, Alfred |
| contents | Compositionally complex solid solutions provide a unique route for engineering high-performance electrocatalysts, where the polyelemental surface composition can be seamlessly tuned to optimize activity, selectivity, and stability. However, the mechanistic understanding of these electrocatalysts remains limited by the lack of a model system with a crystallographically-defined surface that is compatible with correlative, multi-scale characterization. Here, we present epitaxial films as a model platform for studying compositionally complex electrocatalysts. Using magnetron sputtering, we realize (111) epitaxial Ir-Pd-Pt-Rh-Ru films on (0001) sapphire substrate via a (111) Pt buffer layer, confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The growth approach is applicable across a broad composition range and produces smooth surfaces (root mean square roughness < 1 nm) with micrometer-sized grains in the nanoscale films. With these films, we demonstrate direct structure-activity mapping at the nanoscale through precise co-localization using micro-indents and performing correlative atomic force microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and scanning electrochemical cell microscopy. Our work establishes a model platform for fundamental scalebridging characterization and paves the way for rational design of compositionally complex electrocatalysts. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_20784 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Epitaxial Films as Model Platform for Understanding Compositionally Complex Electrocatalysts Kar, Satyakam Perez-Mendoza, Alejandro E. Xiu, Huixin Joo, Miran Yusenko, Kirill V. Hagemann, Ulrich Somsen, Christoph Pfetzing-Micklich, Janine Scheu, Christina Andronescu, Corina Ludwig, Alfred Materials Science Compositionally complex solid solutions provide a unique route for engineering high-performance electrocatalysts, where the polyelemental surface composition can be seamlessly tuned to optimize activity, selectivity, and stability. However, the mechanistic understanding of these electrocatalysts remains limited by the lack of a model system with a crystallographically-defined surface that is compatible with correlative, multi-scale characterization. Here, we present epitaxial films as a model platform for studying compositionally complex electrocatalysts. Using magnetron sputtering, we realize (111) epitaxial Ir-Pd-Pt-Rh-Ru films on (0001) sapphire substrate via a (111) Pt buffer layer, confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The growth approach is applicable across a broad composition range and produces smooth surfaces (root mean square roughness < 1 nm) with micrometer-sized grains in the nanoscale films. With these films, we demonstrate direct structure-activity mapping at the nanoscale through precise co-localization using micro-indents and performing correlative atomic force microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and scanning electrochemical cell microscopy. Our work establishes a model platform for fundamental scalebridging characterization and paves the way for rational design of compositionally complex electrocatalysts. |
| title | Epitaxial Films as Model Platform for Understanding Compositionally Complex Electrocatalysts |
| topic | Materials Science |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.20784 |