Synthesis of High-Entropy Alloys for Electrocatalysis

Abstract

High entropy alloys have garnered significant research interest in the field of electrochemistry in recent years due to their unique catalytic properties. These materials, characterized by a multi-principal element composition, have demonstrated superior catalytic performance and enhanced stability compared to traditional catalysts. However, the inherent complexity of high entropy alloys poses significant challenges, particularly in two key areas. First, this complexity makes studying and fully understanding the material's properties and behavior difficult. Second, the synthesis of nanoscale high entropy alloys is often complex, costly, and differs substantially from their bulk counterparts. This review begins by discussing the core principles that govern the unique characteristics of high entropy alloys. The central portion of the review focuses on the latest methodologies for synthesizing nanoscale high entropy alloys and briefly tabulates the catalytic performance of these materials. In the concluding section, we examine the recent studies on the formation mechanisms of high entropy alloy nanoparticles, with a particular focus on wet-chemistry synthesis methods conducted under mild conditions. We hope this review will help researchers better understand high entropy alloys and high entropy alloy synthesis methods for electrocatalysis.