Spectroscopic and Theoretical Insights Into High-Entropy-Alloy Surfaces and Their Interfaces with Semiconductors for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

Recently, high-entropy alloy (HEA) nanocatalysts have shown outstanding catalytic performance. However, their integration with semiconductors for photocatalytic reactions remains largely unexplored. Here, Pd@HEA core-shell nanocrystals with controlled compositions and facets on TiO supports are synthesized, achieving significantly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Heterogeneous Interfaces of NiSe Nanoclusters Decorated on a NiN Surface Enhance Efficient and Durable Hydrogen Evolution Reactions in Alkaline Electrolyte.

Transition metal selenides (TMSes) have been identified as cost-efficient alternatives to platinum (Pt) for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) owing to their distinct electronic properties and excellent conductivity. However, they encounter challenges such as sluggish water dissociation and severe oxidative degradation, requiring further optimizations. In this study, we developed a dual-site heterogeneous catalyst, NiSe-NiN, by decorating NiSe nanoclusters on a NiN substrate.

Growth Behavior of Ni on Hydrogen-Etched WS Surface.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are 2D materials in which the layers are stacked together by van der Waals forces. Although TMDs are expected to be promising for electronic applications, forming a uniform electrode on them is challenging because of the low adhesion forces between metals and TMDs. This study focuses on improving the quality of metal electrodes by introducing atomic H to create surface defects, using Ni on WS as an example.

Interface engineering breaks both stability and activity limits of RuO for sustainable water oxidation.

Designing catalytic materials with enhanced stability and activity is crucial for sustainable electrochemical energy technologies. RuO is the most active material for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in electrolysers aiming at producing 'green' hydrogen, however it encounters critical electrochemical oxidation and dissolution issues during reaction. It remains a grand challenge to achieve stable and active RuO electrocatalyst as the current strategies usually enhance one of the two properties at the expense of the other.