Yaoxing Wang, Yang Zhang, Pengyu Xing, Xueqi Li, Qiuyu Du, Xueqin Fan, Zhibin Cai, Ran Yin, Yonggang Yao, Wentao Gan
High-entropy alloy nanoparticles (HEAs) show great potential in emerging electrocatalysis due to their combination and optimization of multiple elements. However, synthesized HEAs often exhibit a weak interface with the conductive substrate, hindering their applications in long-term catalysis and energy conversion. Herein, we report a highly active and durable electrocatalyst composed of quinary HEAs (PtNiCoFeCu) encapsulated inside the activated carbonized wood (ACW). The self-encapsulation of HEAs is achieved during Joule heating synthesis (2060 K, 2 s) where HEAs naturally nucleate at the defect sites; In the meantime, HEAs catalyze the deposition of mobile carbon atoms to form a protective few-layer carbon shell during the rapid quenching process, thus remarkably strengthening the interface stability between HEAs and ACW...
April 26, 2024: Advanced Materials