Ultrathin high-entropy layered double hydroxide electrocatalysts for enhancing oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

At the heart of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the properties of electrocatalysts play a crucial role in determining reaction efficiency. This underscores the need to design and develop highly effective OER electrocatalysts. The unique layer structure and electronic properties make layer double hydroxide (LDH) a promising candidate for driving OER electrocatalysis. Furthermore, high-entropy materials (HEMs) exhibit core effects such as high entropy, lattice distortion, sluggish diffusion, and cocktail effect, which can enhance active sites and optimize binding energy with intermediates. Combining the advantages of these two material categories, we propose the synthesis of high-entropy layered double hydroxides (HE-LDHs) through a straightforward MOF-mediated synthesis method to showcase exceptional electrocatalytic OER performance. Detailed mechanistic studies have shown that its outstanding performance stems from its ultrathin structure and the inherent activity of a high-entropy material that promotes charge transfer, mass transport, and the evolution of reaction intermediates.