Recent progress on high-entropy materials for electrocatalytic water splitting applications
01 Jun 2021-Vol. 3, Iss: 2, pp 161-180
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the recent progress on high-entropy materials for electrocatalytic water splitting applications and present the research interests and future prospects in this field.
Abstract: Advanced materials for electrocatalytic water splitting applications have been sought-after considering both environmental and economic requirements. However, the traditional materials design concept limits the exploration of high-performance catalysts. The born of a materials design concept based on multiple elements, high-entropy materials, provides a promising path to break the shackles of compositional design in materials science. A number of high-entropy materials were reported to show remarkable properties for electrocatalytic water splitting applications. High-entropy materials were widely confirmed to be one kind of the best electrocatalysts for water splitting applications. Due to the synergy of multiple metal components, they show excellent catalytic activity. Several nontraditional methods were developed and reported to prepare high-performance high-entropy materials. This review article presents the recent progress on high-entropy materials for electrocatalytic water splitting applications. Moreover, it presents the research interests and future prospects in this field.
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TL;DR: In this paper , a high entropy alloy (HEA) was used for both cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction and anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water-splitting.
Abstract: The creation of high-performing, robust bifunctional electrocatalysts for both cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water-splitting is crucial for producing emerging hydrogen economy. Here we report a high entropy alloy (HEA) – FeCoNiCuPd – thin film catalyst, which demonstrated excellent alkaline HER and OER performance with ultralow overpotentials as low as 29 mV for HER and 194 mV for OER at a current density of 10 mA cm− 2. The outstanding catalytic activity for HER was found to originate from the multiple active sites present on the FeCoNiCuPd surface, while for OER it came from the highly functional (FeCoNi)-oxyhydroxide species formed on the film surface. Moreover, the two-electrode electrolyzer made of the FeCoNiCuPd film electrodes required a low cell voltage of 1.52 V to achieve 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH, greatly outperforming commercially available Pt/C||RuO2 electrodes, while maintaining a notable durability. This work demonstrated the remarkable potential of a HEA thin film in catalyzing water-splitting process.
55 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a facile and scalable approach is reported to synthesize advanced high entropy alloy (CoNiCuMnAl)/C nanoparticles from the polymetallic metal-organic framework (MOF).
53 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a facile and scalable approach is reported to synthesize advanced high entropy alloy (CoNiCuMnAl)/C nanoparticles from the polymetallic metal-organic framework (MOF).
48 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors summarized recent research progress on high entropy alloy catalysts in electrolytic water splitting and discussed the future development trend and application prospects of high entropy alloys.
Abstract: High entropy alloys are considered one of the major breakthroughs in alloying concepts. Their unique design concept and mixed entropy effects make the materials potentially valuable in many applications in various fields. This Research Update summarizes recent research progress on high entropy alloy catalysts in electrolytic water splitting. The definition and properties of high entropy alloys are described and the common preparation methods and organizational characteristics of high entropy alloys are discussed. The catalytic effects of high entropy alloys in water electrolysis are evaluated, and finally, the future development trend and application prospects of high entropy alloys are outlined.
33 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , a hybrid catalysts design featuring noble metal clusters (e.g., Pt) uniformly dispersed and stabilized on high entropy alloy nanoparticles (HEA), denoted as HEA@Pt, which is prepared via ultra fast shock synthesis (∼300 ms) for HEA alloying combined with Pt galvanic replacement for surface anchoring.
Abstract: Although Pt and other noble metals are the state‐of‐the‐art catalysts for various energy conversion applications, their low reserve, high cost, and instability limit their large‐scale utilization. Herein, we report a hybrid catalysts design featuring noble metal clusters (e.g., Pt) uniformly dispersed and stabilized on high‐entropy alloy nanoparticles (HEA, e.g., FeCoNiCu), denoted as HEA@Pt, which is prepared via ultra‐fast shock synthesis (∼300 ms) for HEA alloying combined with Pt galvanic replacement for surface anchoring. In our design, the HEA core critically ensures high dispersity, stability, and tunability of the surface Pt clusters through high entropy stabilization and core‐shell interactions. As an example in the hydrogen evolution reaction, HEA@Pt achieved a significant mass activity of 235 A/gPt, which is 9.4, 3.6, and 1.9‐times higher compared to that of homogeneous FeCoNiCuPt (HEA‐Pt), Pt, and commercial Pt/C, respectively. We also demonstrated noble Ir stabilized on FeCoNiCrMn nanoparticles (HEA‐5@Ir), achieving excellent anodic oxygen evolution performance and highly efficient overall water splitting when combined with the cathodic HEA@Pt. Therefore, our work developed a general catalysts design strategies by using high entropy nanoparticles for effective dispersion, stabilization, and modulation of surface active sites, achieving a harmonious combination of high activity, stability, and low cost.
24 citations
References
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TL;DR: It is found that intraflagellar transport 20 mediates the ability of Ror2 signaling to induce the invasiveness of tumors that lack primary cilia, and IFT20 regulates the nucleation of Golgi-derived microtubules by affecting the GM130-AKAP450 complex.
Abstract: Signaling through the Ror2 receptor tyrosine kinase promotes invadopodia formation for tumor invasion. Here, we identify intraflagellar transport 20 (IFT20) as a new target of this signaling in tumors that lack primary cilia, and find that IFT20 mediates the ability of Ror2 signaling to induce the invasiveness of these tumors. We also find that IFT20 regulates the nucleation of Golgi-derived microtubules by affecting the GM130-AKAP450 complex, which promotes Golgi ribbon formation in achieving polarized secretion for cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, IFT20 promotes the efficiency of transport through the Golgi complex. These findings shed new insights into how Ror2 signaling promotes tumor invasiveness, and also advance the understanding of how Golgi structure and transport can be regulated.
13,354 citations
TL;DR: A new approach for the design of alloys is presented in this paper, where high-entropy alloys with multi-principal elements were synthesized using well-developed processing technologies.
Abstract: A new approach for the design of alloys is presented in this study. These high-entropy alloys with multi-principal elements were synthesized using well-developed processing technologies. Preliminary results demonstrate examples of the alloys with simple crystal structures, nanostructures, and promising mechanical properties. This approach may be opening a new era in materials science and engineering.
8,175 citations
TL;DR: A unified theoretical framework highlights the need for catalyst design strategies that selectively stabilize distinct reaction intermediates relative to each other, and opens up opportunities and approaches to develop higher-performance electrocatalysts for a wide range of reactions.
Abstract: BACKGROUND With a rising global population, increasing energy demands, and impending climate change, major concerns have been raised over the security of our energy future. Developing sustainable, fossil-free pathways to produce fuels and chemicals of global importance could play a major role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions while providing the feedstocks needed to make the products we use on a daily basis. One prospective goal is to develop electrochemical conversion processes that can convert molecules in the atmosphere (e.g., water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen) into higher-value products (e.g., hydrogen, hydrocarbons, oxygenates, and ammonia) by coupling to renewable energy. Electrocatalysts play a key role in these energy conversion technologies because they increase the rate, efficiency, and selectivity of the chemical transformations involved. Today’s electrocatalysts, however, are inadequate. The grand challenge is to develop advanced electrocatalysts with the enhanced performance needed to enable widespread penetration of clean energy technologies. ADVANCES Over the past decade, substantial progress has been made in understanding several key electrochemical transformations, particularly those that involve water, hydrogen, and oxygen. The combination of theoretical and experimental studies working in concert has proven to be a successful strategy in this respect, yielding a framework to understand catalytic trends that can ultimately provide rational guidance toward the development of improved catalysts. Catalyst design strategies that aim to increase the number of active sites and/or increase the intrinsic activity of each active site have been successfully developed. The field of hydrogen evolution, for example, has seen important breakthroughs over the years in the development of highly active non–precious metal catalysts in acid. Notable advancements have also been made in the design of oxygen reduction and evolution catalysts, although there remains substantial room for improvement. The combination of theory and experiment elucidates the remaining challenges in developing further improved catalysts, often involving scaling relations among reactive intermediates. This understanding serves as an initial platform to design strategies to circumvent technical obstacles, opening up opportunities and approaches to develop higher-performance electrocatalysts for a wide range of reactions. OUTLOOK A systematic framework of combining theory and experiment in electrocatalysis helps to uncover broader governing principles that can be used to understand a wide variety of electrochemical transformations. These principles can be applied to other emerging and promising clean energy reactions, including hydrogen peroxide production, carbon dioxide reduction, and nitrogen reduction, among others. Although current paradigms for catalyst development have been helpful to date, a number of challenges need to be successfully addressed in order to achieve major breakthroughs. One important frontier, for example, is the development of both experimental and computational methods that can rapidly elucidate reaction mechanisms on broad classes of materials and in a wide range of operating conditions (e.g., pH, solvent, electrolyte). Such efforts would build on current frameworks for understanding catalysis to provide the deeper insights needed to fine-tune catalyst properties in an optimal manner. The long-term goal is to continue improving the activity and selectivity of these catalysts in order to realize the prospects of using renewable energy to provide the fuels and chemicals that we need for a sustainable energy future.
7,062 citations
01 Jul 2004-Materials Science and Engineering A-structural Materials Properties Microstructure and Processing
TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that the confusion principle does not apply, and other factors are more important in promoting glass formation of late transition metal rich multicomponent alloys.
Abstract: Multicomponent alloys containing several components in equal atomic proportions have been manufactured by casting and melt spinning, and their microstructures and properties have been investigated by a combination of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, X-ray diffractrometry and microhardness measurements. Alloys containing 16 and 20 components in equal proportions are multiphase, crystalline and brittle both as-cast and after melt spinning. A five component Fe20Cr20Mn20Ni20Co20 alloy forms a single fcc solid solution which solidifies dendritically. A wide range of other six to nine component late transition metal rich multicomponent alloys exhibit the same majority fcc primary dendritic phase, which can dissolve substantial amounts of other transition metals such as Nb, Ti and V. More electronegative elements such as Cu and Ge are less stable in the fcc dendrites and are rejected into the interdendritic regions. The total number of phases is always well below the maximum equilibrium number allowed by the Gibbs phase rule, and even further below the maximum number allowed under non-equilibrium solidification conditions. Glassy structures are not formed by casting or melt spinning of late transition metal rich multicomponent alloys, indicating that the confusion principle does not apply, and other factors are more important in promoting glass formation.
5,289 citations
TL;DR: High entropy alloys (HEAs) are barely 12 years old as discussed by the authors, and the field has stimulated new ideas and inspired the exploration of the vast composition space offered by multi-principal element alloys.
4,693 citations