Emerging applications of high-entropy alloy electrocatalysts and beyond

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is an electrochemical process used globally for energy conversion and storage. OER is also a key half-reaction in water splitting and crucial for generating oxygen gas from water electrolysis and fuel cells. Yet, some of the main challenges impeding its implementation are the long-term stability of the catalysts and the energy loss associated with the high overpotentials. In a research article published in Advanced Sustainable Systems, Ding et al. developed a FeCoNiCrNb0.5 high-entropy alloy (HEA) active for OER with 0.288 V overpotential @10 mA/cm2 current flow and 27.7 mV/dec Tafel slope; both values are lower compared to conventional oxide catalysts used in OER, thus showing improved reaction kinetics. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is an electrochemical process used globally for energy conversion and storage. OER is also a key half-reaction in water splitting and crucial for generating oxygen gas from water electrolysis and fuel cells. Yet, some of the main challenges impeding its implementation are the long-term stability of the catalysts and the energy loss associated with the high overpotentials. In a research article published in Advanced Sustainable Systems, Ding et al. developed a FeCoNiCrNb0.5 high-entropy alloy (HEA) active for OER with 0.288 V overpotential @10 mA/cm2 current flow and 27.7 mV/dec Tafel slope; both values are lower compared to conventional oxide catalysts used in OER, thus showing improved reaction kinetics.