TY - JOUR
T1 - The facile oil-phase synthesis of a multi-site synergistic high-entropy alloy to promote the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction
AU - Zhang, Dan
AU - Shi, Yue
AU - Zhao, Huan
AU - Qi, Wenjing
AU - Chen, Xilei
AU - Zhan, Tianrong
AU - Li, Shaoxiang
AU - Yang, Bo
AU - Sun, Mingzi
AU - Lai, Jianping
AU - Huang, Bolong
AU - Wang, Lei
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22001143, 51772162, 51802171, 21771156), the Taishan Scholars Program, Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (ZR2018BB031), Youth Innovation of Shandong Higher Education Institutions, China (2019KJC004), Outstanding Youth Foundation of Shan-dong Province, China (ZR2019JQ14), the Taishan Scholar Project of Shandong Province (tsqn201909123) and the Early Career Scheme (ECS) fund (grant no. PolyU 253026/16P) from the Research Grant Council (RGC) in Hong Kong.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
PY - 2021/1/14
Y1 - 2021/1/14
N2 - Although intensive efforts have been made and great progress has been achieved relating to the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), an advanced synthesis strategy for an efficient electrocatalyst is still the most significant goal. In this paper, we introduce PdFeCoNiCu high-entropy alloy (HEA) nanoparticles as an efficient electrocatalyst for the HER, which has been prepared in an oil phase under facile conditions for the first time. PdFeCoNiCu/C shows excellent alkaline HER catalytic performance with an overpotential of only 18 mV and a Tafel slope of 39 mV dec-1. Meanwhile, we achieved the highest mass activity (6.51 A mgPd-1 at -0.07 V vs. RHE) in the alkaline HER among all non-Pt electrocatalysts. PdFeCoNiCu/C also shows surprisingly stable catalytic properties for over 15 days without notable decay. Based on theoretical calculations, the HEA surface demonstrates the optimization of electronic structures based on a synergistic effect between all metals. Pd and Co are confirmed to be the dominant electroactive sites for both H2 formation and initial water splitting, which are assisted by Ni, Fe, and Cu promotion, enhancing electron transfer and optimizing the binding energies of hydrogen intermediates. This work has supplied significant insight into the design of an efficient electrocatalyst based on HEA materials.
AB - Although intensive efforts have been made and great progress has been achieved relating to the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), an advanced synthesis strategy for an efficient electrocatalyst is still the most significant goal. In this paper, we introduce PdFeCoNiCu high-entropy alloy (HEA) nanoparticles as an efficient electrocatalyst for the HER, which has been prepared in an oil phase under facile conditions for the first time. PdFeCoNiCu/C shows excellent alkaline HER catalytic performance with an overpotential of only 18 mV and a Tafel slope of 39 mV dec-1. Meanwhile, we achieved the highest mass activity (6.51 A mgPd-1 at -0.07 V vs. RHE) in the alkaline HER among all non-Pt electrocatalysts. PdFeCoNiCu/C also shows surprisingly stable catalytic properties for over 15 days without notable decay. Based on theoretical calculations, the HEA surface demonstrates the optimization of electronic structures based on a synergistic effect between all metals. Pd and Co are confirmed to be the dominant electroactive sites for both H2 formation and initial water splitting, which are assisted by Ni, Fe, and Cu promotion, enhancing electron transfer and optimizing the binding energies of hydrogen intermediates. This work has supplied significant insight into the design of an efficient electrocatalyst based on HEA materials.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099547518&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/d0ta10574k
DO - 10.1039/d0ta10574k
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85099547518
SN - 2050-7488
VL - 9
SP - 889
EP - 893
JO - Journal of Materials Chemistry A
JF - Journal of Materials Chemistry A
IS - 2
ER -