Polyelectrolyte templated synthesis and formation behavior of high entropy alloys

Abstract

High entropy alloys have recently received significant attention in electrocatalysis because their unique compositional complexity can enhance both catalytic activity and long term stability. Despite this promise, there remains a lack of scalable synthesis methods that can produce nanoscale high entropy alloys with controlled and more complex morphologies. One promising strategy is to leverage the electrical double layer that forms when polyelectrolytes interact with metal salts. Polyelectrolytes can serve as effective templates by creating a locally high ion concentration along their surface, which promotes initial mixing during nanoparticle nucleation. In particular, polystyrene sulfonate can also bridge nucleating particles, allowing for the formation of more intricate, networked morphologies. The goal of this work is to investigate how polyelectrolyte concentration, polymer chain length, and different reducing agents influence the resulting catalyst composition and morphology. In addition, this study aims to provide insight into the mechanisms of nanoscale high entropy alloy formation.