Simple creation of a super multi-element catalyst homogeneously
containing 14 elements
Realization of omnipotent catalysts expected

Date:
September 7, 2021
Source:
Japan Science and Technology Agency
Summary:
A joint research group has successfully developed a "nanoporous
super multi-element catalyst" that contains 14 elements which are
mixed uniformly at the atomic level and used as a catalyst. This
catalyst was found to show excellent properties as an electrode
material for water electrolysis due to the multi-element
superposition effect (cocktail effect). The researchers are
expecting it will be developed into an omnipotent and versatile
catalyst in the future.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A research group in Japan has successfully developed a "nanoporous super
multi- element catalyst" (1) that contains 14 elements(2) which are mixed uniformly at the atomic level and used as a catalyst. A high-entropy
alloy composed of 10 or more elements may act as a catalyst to exhibit" omnipotency and versatility" being able to freely modify its morphology
and become active according to the reaction field. However, so far,
it has not been easy to produce entropy alloys composed of more than 10 elements. The reason is the existence of combinations of some elements
that are hard to be mixed, like water and oil.


==========================================================================
A joint research group led by Research Associate Cai ZeXing and Professor Takeshi Fujita at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kochi University of Technology, and Professor Masahiro Miyauchi at School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology has
developed a "nanoporous super multi-element catalyst" by a method called de-alloying(3) via the selective corrosion and elusion of a specified
element from the alloy.

The fabrication method is simple: an aluminum alloy containing 14
elements is prepared, and the nanoporous super multi-element catalyst is manufactured by preferential dissolution of aluminum using an alkaline solution. It has been found that, by using this method, while creating a nanoporous structure with a large specific surface area (surface area per
unit mass of material) with a pore size of about 5 nanometers, elements
other than aluminum that do not dissolve in the alkaline solution are accumulated to be aggregated in the form of a solid solution alloy(4)
in which the 14 elements are uniformly distributed at the atomic level.

Further, the nanoporous super multi-element catalyst was found to show excellent properties as an electrode material for water electrolysis
due to the multi-element superposition effect (cocktail effect)(5). As
this catalyst contains many different elements, it is expected to be
developed into an omnipotent and versatile catalyst in the future.

This research is conducted under the JST's Strategic Basic Research
Programs CREST (Team type), Research Area: "Innovative catalysts and
creation technologies for the utilization of diverse natural carbon
resources." (1) Nanoporous super multi-element catalyst A catalyst
wherein at least 10 elements are uniformly distributed in a sponge
structure (porous structure comprising nanosized pores) in which the
nanosized pores are randomly connected.



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(2) 14 elements Aluminum (Al), Silver (Ag), Gold (Au), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Iridium (Ir), Molybdenum (Mo), Nickel (Ni), Palladium
(Pd), Platinum (Pt), Rhodium (Rh), Ruthenium (Ru), Titanium (Ti).

(3) De-alloying A method of selectively eroding and eluting specific
elements from an alloy. It is also called selective corrosion.

(4) Solid solution alloy An alloy in which two or more elements are
mutually melted in each other to form a uniform solid phase.

(5) Multi-element superposition effect (cocktail effect) Manifestation of
a characteristic feature resulting from nonlinear interaction between
various constituent atoms. It is expected to reveal particular and
outstanding catalytic properties so far inexistent in conventional
alloy catalysts.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Japan_Science_and_Technology_Agency. Note: Content may be edited for
style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Ze-Xing Cai, Hiromi Goou, Yoshikazu Ito, Tomoharu Tokunaga, Masahiro
Miyauchi, Hideki Abe, Takeshi Fujita. Nanoporous ultra-high-entropy
alloys containing fourteen elements for water splitting
electrocatalysis.

Chemical Science, 2021; 12 (34): 11306 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc01981c ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210907114920.htm

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