Emergence of Dynamically-Disordered Phases During Fast Oxygen Deintercalation Reaction of Layered Perovskite

Determination of a reaction pathway is an important issue for the optimization of reactions. However, reactions in solid-state compounds have remained poorly understood because of their complexity and technical limitations. Here, using state-of-the-art high-speed time-resolved synchrotron X-ray techniques, the topochemical solid-gas reduction mechanisms in layered perovskite Sr₃ Fe₂ O_{7- δ} (from δ ∼ 0.4 to δ = 1.0), which is promising for an environmental catalyst material is revealed. Pristine Sr₃ Fe₂ O_{7- δ} shows a gradual single-phase structural evolution during reduction, indicating that the reaction continuously proceeds through thermodynamically stable phases. In contrast, a nonequilibrium dynamically-disordered phase emerges a few seconds before a first-order transition during the reduction of a Pd-loaded sample. This drastic change in the reaction pathway can be explained by a change in the rate-determining step. The synchrotron X-ray technique can be applied to various solid-gas reactions and provides an opportunity for gaining a better understanding and optimizing reactions in solid-state compounds.