Solution combustion synthesis of hierarchical porous CoNiFeCu0.1 medium-entropy alloy: A highly efficient and robust electrocatalyst for water oxidation

Abstract

The development of efficient and stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts with nonprecious materials is still a great challenge for the hydrogen-based energy industry. Here, we report the rational design and effective synthesis of hierarchical porous medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) as promising electrocatalysts for OER via a solution combustion method. Owing to the compositional advantages and unique hierarchical porous structure, the as-prepared CoNiFeCu0.1 MEA on nickel foam (CoNiFeCu0.1 @NF) shows superior electrocatalytic performance for OER with an overpotential of about 255 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a small Tafel slope of 42.7 mV dec−1 in 1.0 M KOH solution. Moreover, it is revealed that the alloying of element Cu in CoNiFe MEA can significantly enhance the charge transfer ability for OER electrocatalysis. The present work shows the hierarchical porous MEAs prepared by solution combustion method have great potential as efficient and robust electrocatalysts for water oxidation in alkaline medium.