• Roy, A.; Kumar, S.; Guilherme Buzanich, A.; Prinz, C.; Götz, E.; Retzmann, A.; Hickel, T.; Bhattacharya, B.; Emmerling, F.: Synergistic Catalytic Sites in High-Entropy Metal Hydroxide Organic Framework for Oxygen Evolution Reaction. Advanced Materials 36 (2024), p. 2408114/1-12

10.1002/adma.202408114
Open Access Version (externer Anbieter)

Abstract:
The integration of multiple elements in a high-entropy state is crucial in the design of high-performance, durable electrocatalysts. High-entropy metal hydroxide organic frameworks (HE-MHOFs) are synthesized under mild solvothermal conditions. This novel crystalline metal–organic framework (MOF) features a random, homogeneous distribution of cations within high-entropy hydroxide layers. HE-MHOF exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), reaching a current density of 100 mA cm−2 at ≈1.64 VRHE, and demonstrates remarkable durability, maintaining a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for over 100 h. Notably, HE-MHOF outperforms precious metal-based electrocatalysts despite containing only ≈60% OER active metals. Ab initio calculations and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) demonstrate that the high-entropy catalyst contains active sites that facilitate a multifaceted OER mechanism. This study highlights the benefits of high-entropy MOFs in developing noble metal-free electrocatalysts, reducing reliance on precious metals, lowering metal loading (especially for Ni, Co, and Mn), and ultimately reducing costs for sustainable water electrolysis technologies.