Issue 24, 2024

Universal pH electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution with Au-based high entropy alloys

Abstract

The creation of electrocatalysts with reduced concentrations of platinum-group metals remains a critical challenge for electrochemical hydrogen production. High-entropy alloys (HEAs) offer a distinct type of catalyst with tunable compositions and engineered surface activity, significantly enhancing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). We present the synthesis of AuPdFeNiCo HEA nanoparticles (NPs) using a wet impregnation method. The composition and structure of the AuPdFeNiCo HEA NPs are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). These nanoparticles exhibit robust HER performance quantified over a broad pH range, with higher activity than any of the unary metal counterparts in all pHs. In comparison to a commercial 10%Pt/C electrocatalyst, AuPdFeNiCo HEA NPs exhibit enhanced electrochemical activity in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Additionally, these nanoparticles achieve a current density of 100 mA cm−2 at a voltage of 540 mV in neutral electrolytes, outperforming Pt/C which requires 570 mV. These findings help enable broad use of reduced precious metal electrocatalysts for water electrolysis in a variety of water and pH conditions.

Graphical abstract: Universal pH electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution with Au-based high entropy alloys

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
29 رمضان 1445
Accepted
20 ذو القعدة 1445
First published
27 ذو القعدة 1445

Nanoscale, 2024,16, 11530-11537

Universal pH electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution with Au-based high entropy alloys

S. Jeong, A. J. Branco, S. W. Bollen, C. S. Sullivan and M. B. Ross, Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 11530 DOI: 10.1039/D4NR01538J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements