High-entropy alloys extra-stabilized by carbon dots as highly efficient catalysts for dehydrogenation/hydrogenation reactions

We report here the high-entropy alloy (HEA) FeCoNiCuZn extra-stabilized by carbon dots (CDs) formed at temperatures as low as 400°C, featuring high surface area and tuned electronic states and atomic arrangement. Density functional theory reveals that CDs lower the nucleation energy via interactions of interfacial matching and enhance the control on crystallinity by adsorption energy. The FeCoNiCuZn-CD HEA thus obtained shows excellent catalytic performance in reactions of methylcyclohexane/toluene dehydrogenation/hydrogenation and furfural hydrogenation to furfuryl alcohol, achieving unitary selectivity and exceptional stability. Results of characterizations and theoretical calculations fully demonstrate the extra-stabilization of CDs on the FeCoNiCuZn HEA and the modulation of CDs as electron sink on the FeCoNiCuZn HEA to promote its catalytic activity. This strategy provides an approach for the efficient synthesis of HEAs as well as highlights the dual roles of CDs for catalyst modification, paving the way for the design of more multifunctional catalytic materials.