Nanoporous CuAuPtPd Quasi-High-Entropy Alloy Prism Arrays for Sustainable Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) has emerged as a promising approach for sustainable ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions, offering a low-energy alternative to the traditional Haber–Bosch process. However, the development of efficient and sustainable electrocatalysts for NRR r...

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Main Authors: Shuping Hou, Ziying Meng, Weimin Zhao, Zhifeng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Metals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/5/568
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author Shuping Hou
Ziying Meng
Weimin Zhao
Zhifeng Wang
author_facet Shuping Hou
Ziying Meng
Weimin Zhao
Zhifeng Wang
author_sort Shuping Hou
collection DOAJ
description Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) has emerged as a promising approach for sustainable ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions, offering a low-energy alternative to the traditional Haber–Bosch process. However, the development of efficient and sustainable electrocatalysts for NRR remains a significant challenge. Noble metals, known for their exceptional chemical stability under electrocatalytic conditions, have garnered considerable attention in this field. In this study, we report the successful synthesis of nanoporous CuAuPtPd quasi-high-entropy alloy (quasi-HEA) prism arrays through “melt quenching” and “dealloying” techniques. The as-obtained alloy demonstrates remarkable performance as an NRR electrocatalyst, achieving an impressive ammonia synthesis rate of 17.5 μg h<sup>−1</sup> mg<sup>−1</sup> at a potential of −0.2 V vs. RHE, surpassing many previously reported NRR catalysts. This work not only highlights the potential of quasi-HEAs as advanced NRR electrocatalysts but also provides valuable insights into the design of nanoporous multicomponent materials for sustainable energy and catalytic applications.
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spelling doaj-art-d96c6095713c445bac5563bf5ae51b2b2025-08-20T03:14:32ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012025-05-0115556810.3390/met15050568Nanoporous CuAuPtPd Quasi-High-Entropy Alloy Prism Arrays for Sustainable Electrochemical Nitrogen ReductionShuping Hou0Ziying Meng1Weimin Zhao2Zhifeng Wang3School of Information Engineering, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China“The Belt and Road Initiative” Advanced Materials International Joint Research Center of Hebei Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China“The Belt and Road Initiative” Advanced Materials International Joint Research Center of Hebei Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China“The Belt and Road Initiative” Advanced Materials International Joint Research Center of Hebei Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, ChinaElectrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) has emerged as a promising approach for sustainable ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions, offering a low-energy alternative to the traditional Haber–Bosch process. However, the development of efficient and sustainable electrocatalysts for NRR remains a significant challenge. Noble metals, known for their exceptional chemical stability under electrocatalytic conditions, have garnered considerable attention in this field. In this study, we report the successful synthesis of nanoporous CuAuPtPd quasi-high-entropy alloy (quasi-HEA) prism arrays through “melt quenching” and “dealloying” techniques. The as-obtained alloy demonstrates remarkable performance as an NRR electrocatalyst, achieving an impressive ammonia synthesis rate of 17.5 μg h<sup>−1</sup> mg<sup>−1</sup> at a potential of −0.2 V vs. RHE, surpassing many previously reported NRR catalysts. This work not only highlights the potential of quasi-HEAs as advanced NRR electrocatalysts but also provides valuable insights into the design of nanoporous multicomponent materials for sustainable energy and catalytic applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/5/568nanoporousquasi-high-entropy alloysprecious metalselectrocatalystsdealloying
spellingShingle Shuping Hou
Ziying Meng
Weimin Zhao
Zhifeng Wang
Nanoporous CuAuPtPd Quasi-High-Entropy Alloy Prism Arrays for Sustainable Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction
Metals
nanoporous
quasi-high-entropy alloys
precious metals
electrocatalysts
dealloying
title Nanoporous CuAuPtPd Quasi-High-Entropy Alloy Prism Arrays for Sustainable Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction
title_full Nanoporous CuAuPtPd Quasi-High-Entropy Alloy Prism Arrays for Sustainable Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction
title_fullStr Nanoporous CuAuPtPd Quasi-High-Entropy Alloy Prism Arrays for Sustainable Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction
title_full_unstemmed Nanoporous CuAuPtPd Quasi-High-Entropy Alloy Prism Arrays for Sustainable Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction
title_short Nanoporous CuAuPtPd Quasi-High-Entropy Alloy Prism Arrays for Sustainable Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction
title_sort nanoporous cuauptpd quasi high entropy alloy prism arrays for sustainable electrochemical nitrogen reduction
topic nanoporous
quasi-high-entropy alloys
precious metals
electrocatalysts
dealloying
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/5/568
work_keys_str_mv AT shupinghou nanoporouscuauptpdquasihighentropyalloyprismarraysforsustainableelectrochemicalnitrogenreduction
AT ziyingmeng nanoporouscuauptpdquasihighentropyalloyprismarraysforsustainableelectrochemicalnitrogenreduction
AT weiminzhao nanoporouscuauptpdquasihighentropyalloyprismarraysforsustainableelectrochemicalnitrogenreduction
AT zhifengwang nanoporouscuauptpdquasihighentropyalloyprismarraysforsustainableelectrochemicalnitrogenreduction