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
08 Apr 2024
Accepted
28 May 2024
First published
04 Jun 2024

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

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