High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising catalytic materials that can improve the selectivity and performance of catalysts used in dehydrogenation reactions, which can generate hydrogen for use in transportation applications. In this study, we discuss the synthesis of supported HEA catalysts with tunable compositions on carbon nanofiber (CNF) mats. We optimize the loading of mixed metal salt precursors on the surface of CNF by judiciously selecting and synthesizing metal ammine precursors and pH conditions to maximize the electrostatic attraction between the carbon surface and the metal ammine complex. We utilize a 1064 nm nanosecond pulsed laser to drive the rapid, kinetically controlled thermal decomposition of the salt precursors into high-entropy alloy nanoparticles on the CNF surface. We will report on the effect laser pulse width and fluence have on the resulting HEA nanoparticle size, crystallinity, and catalytic activity. Furthermore, we will discuss the performance differences between our HEA and traditional non-HEA catalysts for the formate dehydrogenation reaction and present an initial structure-function relationship for our HEA catalytic system. This presentation provides an insight on how HEAs can be designed and synthesized for energy generation applications.
