Multi-principal elemental intermetallic nanoparticles synthesized via a disorder-to-order transition

Abstract

Nanoscale multi-principal element intermetallics (MPEIs) may provide a broad and tunable compositional space of active, high–surface area materials with potential applications such as catalysis and magnetics. However, MPEI nanoparticles are challenging to fabricate because of the tendency of the particles to grow/agglomerate or phase-separated during annealing. Here, we demonstrate a disorder-to-order phase transition approach that enables the synthesis of ultrasmall (4 to 5 nm) and stable MPEI nanoparticles (up to eight elements). We apply just 5 min of Joule heating to promote the phase transition of the nanoparticles into L1 0 intermetallic structure, which is then preserved by rapidly cooling. This disorder-to-order transition results in phase-stable nanoscale MPEIs with compositions (e.g., PtPdAuFeCoNiCuSn), which have not been previously attained by traditional synthetic methods. This synthesis strategy offers a new paradigm for developing previously unexplored MPEI nanoparticles by accessing a nanoscale-size regime and novel compositions with potentially broad applications.

High‐Entropy Materials for Water Electrolysis

“…Intermetallic compounds represent a unique family of metals that feature long‐range atomic ordering between sublattices but random mixing within each sublattice. [ 62 ] Jia et al developed a novel alloy design strategy to manufacture a nonprecious metal‐based high‐entropy intermetallic compound (FeCoNiAlTi) ( Figure 5 a). [ 45 ] By leveraging both the chemical synergistic and structural site‐isolation effects of the dissimilar metal atoms, the electronic structure of FeCoNiAlTi was controllably tuned to achieve highly efficient HER catalysis in the alkaline solution.…”

High‐entropy alloy catalysts: From bulk to nano toward highly efficient carbon and nitrogen catalysis

“…Another important metallic alloy structure is ordered intermetallic, which often requires high-temperature annealing to drive the disorder-order phase transition. 47,[79][80][81] Recently, Liang and colleagues 47 reported a sulfur-anchoring strategy to synthesize Pt-based multielement intermetallic compounds (Figure 2F). These high-entropy intermetallic compounds were prepared via reduction treatment under 5% H 2 /Ar at 600-1100°C for 2 h and cooled naturally.…”

“…Another important metallic alloy structure is ordered intermetallic, which often requires high‐temperature annealing to drive the disorder–order phase transition 47,79–81 . Recently, Liang and colleagues 47 reported a sulfur‐anchoring strategy to synthesize Pt‐based multielement intermetallic compounds (Figure 2F).…”

“…As an example, the senary intermetallic compounds of Pt 5 FeCoNiCuMn presented ordered intermetallic structures between Pt and other non‐NMs and uniform element distribution among these non‐NMs, as shown in Figure 2G 47 . Moreover, Cui et al 80 synthesized the multiprincipal element intermetallic nanoparticles containing up to eight elements (e.g., PtPdAuFeCoNiCuSn) via a Joule‐heating method (1100 K, ∼5 min). The limited heating time and rapid temperature quenching also could prevent the nanoparticles from excessive growth and agglomeration at high temperatures, during which a disorder‐to‐order phase transition is achieved.…”

Pushing the Boundaries of Multicomponent Alloy Nanostructures: Hybrid Approach of Liquid Phase Separation and Selective Leaching Processes

“…Multicomponent alloy (MCA) nanostructures, such as nanoparticles and nanofoams, have drawn extensive research interest in a wide range of functional applications. − Mixing multiple metallic elements is the classical way of obtaining excellent properties of materials since the Bronze age, while alloy research had mostly focused on relatively narrow ranges of alloy compositions with a single principal element until the emergence of the “high entropy alloy” concept. , The concept of alloys with multiple principal elements brought research attention to vast compositional spaces, especially with more than three components, which still remain largely unexplored at either macroscale or nanoscale.…”