Ce⁴⁺ as a facile and versatile surface modification reagent for templated synthesis in electrical applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Surface modification is key for templated synthesis of 3D architectured materials used in catalysis, photonics, and energy storage.
• Existing methods using dopamine or catechol create unstable modification layers, limiting their use in harsh or electrical applications.
• There is a need for versatile and stable surface modification techniques for advanced material fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Cerium(IV) ions (Ce4+) as an effective surface modification reagent for diverse substrates.
• To demonstrate the facile synthesis of stable CeO2 seed layers for subsequent conformal growth of nanostructures.
• To explore the application of Ce4+-modified materials in electrochemical reactions.

Main Methods:

• Surface modification of various substrates (butterfly wings, carbon paper, nickel foam, PET planks) using Ce4+.
• Formation of discrete CeO2 seed layers on modified surfaces.
• Conformal growth of nanomaterials (CeO2, Ni(OH)2, FeOOH, WO3) onto CeO2 seed layers.

Main Results:

• Ce4+ modification yielded stable CeO2 seed layers on diverse substrates within 0.25–2 hours.
• Conformal growth of various 3D architectured materials was achieved.
• Fe-oxyhydroxide nanosheets on nickel foam exhibited an excellent oxygen evolution reaction overpotential (241 mV at 10 mA cm-2).

Conclusions:

• Ce4+ is a versatile and effective reagent for surface modification, enabling the fabrication of robust 3D architectured materials.
• The developed strategy is suitable for applications in harsh environments and electrical devices, such as Li-ion batteries.
• This facile method offers broad potential for conformal fabrication of advanced functional materials.