journal article·2026-05Open access

Pulse Electrodeposited NiFeCoMoW High‐Entropy Alloy Electrode for Efficient Alkaline Water Electrolysis

Ziyao Chen, Yiwei Sun, Mengqing Hu, Mingli Li, Kaidi Zhang, Wanhong Zhang, Zhong Zheng, Ruth Knibbe, Kaicai Fan, Lingbo Zong, Yuhai Dou, Yi Jia, Yun Wang, Huai Qin Fu, Porun Liu, Huijun Zhao

Small· Volume 22· Issue 27

Abstract

ABSTRACT High‐entropy alloys (HEAs) offer a versatile platform for bifunctional electrocatalysis, yet their activity‐stability balance under industrial‐level current density remains insufficiently understood. Here, we report a self‐supported NiFeCoMoW HEA electrode fabricated by pulse electrodeposition on copper foam, forming a binder‐free hierarchical architecture with homogeneous elemental distribution. In 1.0 M KOH, NiFeCoMoW@CF delivers strong bifunctional activity, requiring an overpotential of 251 mV to reach 10 mA cm −2 for OER, and enables overall water splitting with a low cell voltage of 1.52 V at 10 mA cm −2 and 1.83 V at 1000 mA cm −2 . The electrolyzer operates stably at 1000 mA cm −2 for 100 h with minimal voltage increase. In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals a potential‐dependent surface evolution: a persistent Mo/W‐O signature is retained across HER and OER, while Ni/Fe/Co reconstruct into an oxyhydroxide‐rich surface state under OER, consistent with post‐test XPS/HRTEM. This coupled stabilization–reconstruction behavior, enabled by multicomponent coupling and pulse‐engineered accessibility, provides mechanistic insight and a practical strategy for durable, noble‐metal‐free alkaline water electrolysis.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion · High Entropy Alloys Studies · Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Environment and Science Gold Coast Campus Griffith University Gold Coast Australia

School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering The University of Queensland Brisbane Australia

College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao China

Institute of Energy Materials Science University of Shanghai for Science and Technology Shanghai China

College of Chemical Engineering Petroleum and Chemical Industry Key Laboratory of Organic Electrochemical Synthesis Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou China

Zhejiang Carbon Neutral Innovation Institute & Zhejiang International Cooperation Base for Science and Technology on Carbon Emission Reduction and Monitoring Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou China

Moganshan Institute of Zhejiang University of Technology at Deqing Huzhou China

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