High-Entropy Alloy Anode Catalyst for Durable Organic Hydride Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional organic hydride production devices face durability issues with their anode catalysts due to the need to withstand hydrogenation target substances and organic hydrides leaking from the cathode side, requiring improved resistance and activity.

Innovation Solution

Employing a high-entropy alloy containing base metal elements as the anode catalyst, which enhances durability and reduces production costs while maintaining catalytic activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional anode catalysts (Ir or the like) are used in organic hydride production devices, then oxygen evolution reaction activity is maintained, but durability deteriorates due to exposure to hydrogenation target substances and organic hydrides that cross leak from the cathode electrode side

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanode catalyst durabilityVSAvoidexposure to hydrogenation target substance and organic hydride
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material parameters of the anode catalyst from conventional Ir-based catalysts to high-entropy alloy catalysts with specific compositional ratios (5-20 at% each of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Cu). This parameter change enables the catalyst to withstand exposure to hydrogenation target substances and organic hydrides while maintaining OER activity, thereby improving durability under harmful environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs a high-entropy alloy composite material comprising multiple base metal elements (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Cu) in specific proportions as the anode catalyst. This composite material structure provides enhanced resistance to hydrogenation target substances and organic hydrides compared to single-metal catalysts, while maintaining catalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If noble metals like Ir are used as anode catalysts, then catalytic activity is maintained, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalytic activityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive noble metal catalysts (Ir) with a high-entropy alloy catalyst composed of more abundant and cheaper base metal elements (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Cu). Although individual base metals may have shorter lifetimes, the high-entropy alloy structure provides synergistic effects that extend catalyst life while dramatically reducing material cost, making the catalyst economically viable for large-scale organic hydride production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the compositional parameters of the catalyst from 100% noble metal (Ir) to a multi-element high-entropy alloy with controlled atomic percentages (5-20 at% each element). This parameter optimization achieves the necessary catalytic activity for OER while using substantially cheaper base metal elements, thereby reducing production cost without sacrificing performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The high-entropy alloy anode catalyst improves durability, maintains activity over time, and reduces production costs by using less expensive base metals compared to noble metals like Ir.

Implementation Method 1

The anode electrode oxidizes water or hydroxide ions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

generate protons from water at an anode electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 3

the cathode electrode electrochemically reduces the hydrogenation target substance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReduction: Reduction

Implementation Method 4

generates an organic hydride by hydrogenating a hydrogenation target substance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogenation: Hydrogenation

Data Source

PatentEP4700157A1Organic hydride production device and organic hydride production method
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 ENEOS CORP
  • EP4700157A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4700157A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4700157A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This organic hydride production device 2 comprises, as an anode catalyst 11, an anode electrode 10 having a high entropy alloy containing a base metal element, a cathode electrode 8, and an electrolyte membrane 12 positioned between the anode electrode 10 and the cathode electrode 8. The anode electrode 10 oxidizes water or hydroxide ions. The cathode electrode 8 electrochemically reduces a hydride to generate an organic hydride.