Design of Hierarchical Porosity Via Manipulating Chemical and Microstructural Complexities in High-Entropy Alloys for Efficient Water Electrolysis

Rui Li, Xiongjun Liu (Corresponding Author), Weihong Liu, Zhibin Li, K. C. Chan (Corresponding Author), Zhaoping Lu (Corresponding Author)

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

55 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Achieving a porous architecture with multiple-length scales and utilizing the synergetic effects of multicomponent chemicals bring up new opportunities for further improving the electrocatalytic performance of nanocatalysts. Herein, the synthesis of a self-supported hierarchical porous electrocatalyst based on a high-entropy alloy (HEA) containing multiple transitional metals via physical metallurgy and dealloying strategies is reported. Microscale phase separation and nanoscale spinodal decomposition are modulated in a highly concentrated FeCoNiCu HEA, which makes it possible to obtain a porous structure with different length scales, i.e., relatively large porous channels formed by removing one separated phase and ultrafine mesopores obtained from leaching out one decomposition phase. The resultant hierarchical porous HEA exhibits superior water splitting performance, which takes full advantage of the enlarged surface area offered by the bi-continuous mesoporous structure with the exceptional intrinsic reactivity originating from the synergetic electronic effects of the different components in alloying. Moreover, the microscale porous structure plays an important role in the significantly improved mass transportation, as well as the durability during electrocatalysis. This effective strategy that simultaneously utilizes the chemical and microstructural advantages of HEAs opens up a new avenue for developing HEA-based, high-performance porous electrocatalysts for various energy conversion/store applications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2105808
JournalAdvanced Science
Volume9
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Apr 2022

Keywords

  • hierarchical pore
  • high-entropy alloy
  • phase separation
  • spinodal decomposition
  • water electrolysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Materials Science
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)
  • General Engineering
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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