Fresh perspectives and insights into the challenges and opportunities in the emerging high-entropy electrocatalysts

Abstract

High-entropy materials (HEMs), especially high-entropy alloys (HEAs) and various metal-based compounds, are emerging in the field of electrocatalysis due to their characteristics of “out of disorder comes order”, high-entropy mixing effect, and unique physical and chemical properties. HEMs are a unique multi-element principal component material. Its notable characteristic lies in its diverse array of constituent elements, with their proportions being evenly dispersed, typically in an exact or nearly equal molar ratio. Such materials cover HEAs and a range of high-entropy compounds, such as high-entropy oxides, hydroxides, phosphides, and sulfides. Recent years have witnessed a surge in research exploring the synthesis and catalytic applications of these innovative materials, leading to a number of reviewing articles that have overviewed various aspects of HEMs, this work distinguishes itself by offering fresh perspectives and insights into the most recent advancements, particularly focusing on emerging trends and innovations. The review offers fresh perspectives and insights into the latest advancements in the field that have not been comprehensively covered before, with a focus on emerging synthesis methods, innovative design strategies, cutting-edge characterization techniques, theoretical predictions, and catalytic applications of HEMs. Additionally, the evolving role of density functional theory (DFT) in the theoretical design and high-throughput screening of HEM electrocatalysts is explored in greater depth, providing a unique angle on their theoretical underpinnings. Progress in applying HEMs to a variety of electrochemical catalytic reactions is revisited with a focus on the latest breakthroughs. Finally, the review critically examines the current challenges and future developments for HEMs, offering new insights into their emerging potential in catalysis, thereby setting this work apart from prior articles in the field.