Cu‐Enhanced Sigma Phase High‐Entropy Intermetallics Enabling Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Through Hydrogen Spillover

ABSTRACT High‐entropy intermetallics (HEIs) exhibit outstanding stability in alkaline water electrolysis, but their application as catalysts is strictly restricted by sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. Hydrogen spillover offers a promising strategy to address this challenge, enabling timely replenishment of active hydrogen in alkaline media through migration from water dissociation sites to adjacent catalytic domains. Herein, we report a Sigma phase HEIs catalyst S‐MnFeCoNiVCu, where spillover carrier‐Cu incorporation into the high‐entropy topological close‐packed structure significantly enhances hydrogen spillover efficiency. This catalyst exhibits excellent HER performance in 1 m KOH, requiring only 161 and 266 mV to achieve current densities of 100 mA cm −2 and 500 mA cm −2 , respectively. The markedly reduced Tafel slope (46.93 mV dec −1 ) and enhanced hydrogen adsorption/desorption kinetics provide clear evidence of hydrogen spillover phenomena during HER. The inherent structural stability of Sigma phase HEIs ensures ultra‐durable operation over 6000 h at 500 mA cm −2 with no detectable degradation. This work demonstrates a novel catalyst design paradigm through synergistic structural engineering and spillover carrier element incorporation, offering fresh insights into hydrogen spillover‐enhanced alkaline HER.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2026-04-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.75333
Primary Topic
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Cu‐Enhanced Sigma Phase High‐Entropy Intermetallics Enabling Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Through Hydrogen Spillover

Jin Tian, S. Wang, Yimin D. Zhang, Guangxin Sun et al.
Advanced Functional Materials
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
article

Cu‐Enhanced Sigma Phase High‐Entropy Intermetallics Enabling Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Through Hydrogen Spillover

Jin Tian, S. Wang, Yimin D. Zhang, Guangxin Sun, Enzuo Liu, Rongrong Shi, Linyuan Pei, Fang He, Wanxiang Zhao, Chunnian He, Biao Chen, Ying Tang, Naiqin Zhao, Chunsheng Shi, Liying Ma
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT High‐entropy intermetallics (HEIs) exhibit outstanding stability in alkaline water electrolysis, but their application as catalysts is strictly restricted by sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. Hydrogen spillover offers a promising strategy to address this challenge, enabling timely replenishment of active hydrogen in alkaline media through migration from water dissociation sites to adjacent catalytic domains. Herein, we report a Sigma phase HEIs catalyst S‐MnFeCoNiVCu, where spillover carrier‐Cu incorporation into the high‐entropy topological close‐packed structure significantly enhances hydrogen spillover efficiency. This catalyst exhibits excellent HER performance in 1 m KOH, requiring only 161 and 266 mV to achieve current densities of 100 mA cm −2 and 500 mA cm −2 , respectively. The markedly reduced Tafel slope (46.93 mV dec −1 ) and enhanced hydrogen adsorption/desorption kinetics provide clear evidence of hydrogen spillover phenomena during HER. The inherent structural stability of Sigma phase HEIs ensures ultra‐durable operation over 6000 h at 500 mA cm −2 with no detectable degradation. This work demonstrates a novel catalyst design paradigm through synergistic structural engineering and spillover carrier element incorporation, offering fresh insights into hydrogen spillover‐enhanced alkaline HER.

Advanced Functional Materials
Tianjin University (CN), Suzhou Research Institute (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 24%
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.