Ultrafast Synthesis of a Non‐Noble FeCoNiCrZn Multi‐Element Alloy Electrocatalyst for Alkaline Oxygen Evolution Reaction

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Abstract
The large‐scale implementation of electrocatalytic water splitting for green hydrogen production is hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), necessitating efficient and durable catalysts. Here, we report an innovative ultrafast synthesis strategy using pulsed laser irradiation for the one‐step fabrication of a nanoporous carbon‐coated FeCoNiCrZn multi‐element alloy (MEA) supported on carbon cloth (FeCoNiCrZn‐C@CC), with l ‐ascorbic acid as an auxiliary agent. This resulting catalyst shows exceptional OER performance, achieving an overpotential of only 233 mV at 10 mA cm −2 and remarkable stability for 94 h at 250 mA cm −2 . We attributed this enhanced activity to a unique active site architecture, enabled by in situ generation of M III ‐OOH (M=Fe, Co, and Ni) active species, partial Cr dissolution, and thermal dezincification. In situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry combined with first‐principles calculations reveals that the OER follows an adsorbate evolution mechanism. This work not only presents an ultrafast laser‐processing route for constructing high‐performance catalysts but also offers atomic‐level insights into their rational design.
Funding Information
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (22478252)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (U21A20316)
  • China Scholarship Council (202208210111)

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