In an electrochemistry project managed from KTH, the Mid Sweden University plays an important role. Highly oxidising compounds like ozone and perchlorates are important chemicals for a variety of processes, including water treatment and sterilization. A very convenient way of producing them is through electrolysis of water solutions. However, electrochemical production of highly oxidative species tends to show low efficiency since side reactions like oxygen evolution if often favoured.

What reactions are favoured is to a large extent determined by the electrode material. A material that allows for an efficient production of the desired product with a low energy demand is said to have high selectivity towards that particular reaction. Recently, it was shown that tin oxide doped with antimony and nickel has a record high selectivity towards ozone evolution from water.

In this project we combine advanced materials preparation with state-of-the art electrochemical investigations and solid-state physics to investigate the reason behind the high ozone selectivity of tin oxides. If we can find an explanation for the performance, we can optimize the functionality and perhaps also learn how to supress undesired oxygen evolution also in other electrochemical processes.