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Updated: May 20, 2026
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Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
High-Entropy Alloy Nanocrystals: From Synthesis to Characterization and Catalytic Application.
Jianlong He1, Yueh-Chun Hsiao2, Chia-Ying Wu2
1School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
Chemical Reviews
|May 18, 2026
Summary
High-entropy alloy (HEA) nanocrystals offer tunable catalytic properties due to their unique elemental combinations and nanoscale structures. This review details their synthesis, characterization, and applications in catalysis, paving the way for advanced materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Catalysis
Background:
- High-entropy alloy (HEA) nanocrystals possess unique properties stemming from high entropy, lattice distortion, sluggish diffusion, and cocktail mixing.
- These materials combine compositional diversity with nanoscale complexity, enabling tailored atomic environments and electronic structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in HEA nanocrystal synthesis, compositional and structural control, and catalytic applications.
- To focus on achieving uniform atomic mixing and well-defined surface structures for enhanced catalytic performance.
Main Methods:
- Exploration of top-down and bottom-up synthetic methodologies, with an emphasis on wet-chemical synthesis for precise control over reduction, nucleation, growth, and alloying.
- Discussion of advanced characterization techniques and theoretical modeling to probe multicomponent solid-solution phases, local coordination environments, and interelement interactions.
Main Results:
- Wet-chemical synthesis overcomes challenges like reduction kinetics and elemental immiscibility, enabling precise control over HEA nanocrystal formation.
- Fundamental features of HEA nanocrystals, including interelement interactions and synergistic effects, enhance performance in electro-, thermo-, and photocatalysis.
Conclusions:
- HEA nanocrystals represent a transformative class of catalytic materials with significant potential for sustainable energy conversions and chemical transformations.
- A roadmap of 15 critical aspects is identified for the rational design of next-generation HEA catalysts.
