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Design of Complex Solid‐Solution Electrocatalysts by Correlating Configuration, Adsorption Energy Distribution Patterns, and Activity Curves
Author(s) -
Löffler Tobias,
Savan Alan,
Meyer Hajo,
Meischein Michael,
Strotkötter Valerie,
Ludwig Alfred,
Schuhmann Wolfgang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201914666
Subject(s) - adsorption , catalysis , materials science , solid solution , alloy , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , chemical physics , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering
Abstract Complex solid‐solution electrocatalysts (also referred to as high‐entropy alloy) are gaining increasing interest owing to their promising properties which were only recently discovered. With the capability of forming complex single‐phase solid solutions from five or more constituents, they offer unique capabilities of fine‐tuning adsorption energies. However, the elemental complexity within the crystal structure and its effect on electrocatalytic properties is poorly understood. We discuss how addition or replacement of elements affect the adsorption energy distribution pattern and how this impacts the shape and activity of catalytic response curves. We highlight the implications of these conceptual findings on improved screening of new catalyst configurations and illustrate this strategy based on the discovery and experimental evaluation of several highly active complex solid solution nanoparticle catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media.