Dual‐Site Synergy in PtRuFeCoNi High‐Entropy Alloys: Mitigating OH*/H* Adsorption Competition for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution

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Authors: Jie Mu, Li An, W Q Liu, Ran Li, Jinming Wang, Yichang Liu, Dan Qu, Pengfei Li, X Wang, Ning Jiang, L Wang, Weifeng Huang
+1 more Zaicheng Sun
Cited by: 3
References: 58

Abstract

ABSTRACT The competitive adsorption between H* and OH* on single active sites is a long‐standing bottleneck limiting alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. Herein, we integrate “multi‐element electronic regulation” with “dual‐site functional partitioning” in a PtRuFeCoNi high‐entropy alloy (HEA) electrocatalyst, which is synthesized via high‐entropy engineering strategy. Driven by electronegativity differences among Pt, Ru, Fe, Co, and Ni, spontaneous electron transfer precisely modulates their d‐band centers of Pt and Ru. This electronic regulation results in that Pt sites activate H 2 O and adsorb OH*, while Ru sites optimize H* adsorption free energy to ‐0.18 eV for selective H* stabilization. Operando EPR directly captures ·H's “generation‐stabilization‐conversion” dynamics, filling the characterization gap. Complemented by in situ Raman and FTIR, the dual‐site mechanism is validated. PtRuFeCoNi/catalyst exhibits an ultra‐low overpotential of 5.2 mV at 10 mA cm −2 , a Tafel slope of 45.6 mV dec −1 , and 150 h stability in 1 M KOH. For overall water splitting, it achieves 10 mA cm −2 at 1.41 V, outperforming Pt/C||RuO 2 . This work establishes a new paradigm for resolving intermediate adsorption competition in multi‐electron transfer reactions.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts

Publication details

Journal / source
Small
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
22
Issue
31
Pages
e73381–e73381
Publication date
15 April 2026
Language
EN