Recent progress in high-entropy intermetallics for advanced catalysis

Abstract

High-entropy intermetallics (HEIMs), featuring ordered atomic arrangements and unique physicochemical properties, have emerged as promising catalysts for energy conversion. This review systematically summarizes the synthetic strategies of HEIMs, including alloying and dealloying, co-impregnation and annealing, disorder-to-order transition, and chemical co-reduction. The ordered crystalline architecture of HEIMs enables tunable active sites and enhanced catalytic performances in water splitting, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), fuel oxidation reactions, acetylene semihydrogenation, and propane dehydrogenation. Mechanistic insights reveal that ordered atomic arrangements in HEIMs facilitate efficient intermediate adsorption/desorption and suppress coking or sintering. However, challenges remain in rational design (e.g., theory-guided synthesis), controllable morphology/structure regulation, development of suitable supports (beyond carbon-based materials), cost reduction via non-noble metal substitution, and scalable manufacturing. Future perspectives highlight the need for interdisciplinary approaches combining computational modeling and experimental optimization to unlock HEIMs’ potential in broader catalytic domains.