Development of MnCO3 mineral catalyst and the function elucidation by XAFS

Abstract

In order to realize a water splitting process using renewable energy, a water splitting catalyst with high oxygen production efficiency is desired. In this study, we developed the water splitting catalyst by crushing manganese carbonate minerals in a ball mill, and measured the XAFS spectra for it. XAFS analysis showed the occurrence of structural distortions on the surface of the minerals after crushing. Therefore, the developed mineral catalyst was guessed to function as reaction sites due to the structural distortion on the surface generated by crushing.