Microstructural Activation of a Topochemical Reduction Reaction.

The progress of the topochemical reduction reaction that converts LaSrNiRuO into LaSrNiRuO depends on the synthesis conditions used to prepare the oxidized phase. Samples of LaSrNiRuO that have been quenched from high temperature can be readily and rapidly converted into LaSrNiRuO. In contrast, samples that have been slow-cooled cannot be completely reduced. This reactivity difference is attributed to the differing microstructures of the quenched and slow-cooled samples, with the former having much smaller average crystalline domain sizes and larger lattice strains than the latter. A mechanism to explain this effect is presented, in which the greater "plasticity" of small crystalline domains helps lower the activation energy of the reduction reaction. In addition, we propose that the enhanced lattice strain in quenched samples also acts to destabilize the host phase, further enhancing reactivity. These observations suggest that the microstructure of a material can be used to "activate" topochemical reactions in the solid state, expanding the scope of phases that can be prepared by this type of reaction.