Electronegativity regulation and graphitization: Synergistic enhancement of wood-derived carbon-based high-entropy alloy electrocatalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution

Shiyuan Wang; Chunmei Zhang; Jie Xu; Feng Liu; Guoliang Dai; Jingsha Li; Shan Zhang; Chunxian Guo; Yujie Ma; Shuijian He; Shaohua Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100282

Volume 11 Issue 4

Aug. 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts > 2026 > 11(4): 100282

Shiyuan Wang, Chunmei Zhang, Jie Xu, Feng Liu, Guoliang Dai, Jingsha Li, Shan Zhang, Chunxian Guo, Yujie Ma, Shuijian He, Shaohua Jiang. Electronegativity regulation and graphitization: Synergistic enhancement of wood-derived carbon-based high-entropy alloy electrocatalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(4): 100282. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100282

Citation:

Shiyuan Wang, Chunmei Zhang, Jie Xu, Feng Liu, Guoliang Dai, Jingsha Li, Shan Zhang, Chunxian Guo, Yujie Ma, Shuijian He, Shaohua Jiang. Electronegativity regulation and graphitization: Synergistic enhancement of wood-derived carbon-based high-entropy alloy electrocatalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(4): 100282. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100282

Citation:

Shiyuan Wang, Chunmei Zhang, Jie Xu, Feng Liu, Guoliang Dai, Jingsha Li, Shan Zhang, Chunxian Guo, Yujie Ma, Shuijian He, Shaohua Jiang. Electronegativity regulation and graphitization: Synergistic enhancement of wood-derived carbon-based high-entropy alloy electrocatalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(4): 100282. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100282

PDF( 4002 KB)

Electronegativity regulation and graphitization: Synergistic enhancement of wood-derived carbon-based high-entropy alloy electrocatalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution

doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100282

Shiyuan Wang^a,b,
Chunmei Zhang^{a
,
,},
Jie Xu^a,
Feng Liu^a,
Guoliang Dai^c,
Jingsha Li^a,
Shan Zhang^a,
Chunxian Guo^{a
,
,},
Yujie Ma^{d
,
,},
Shuijian He^b,
Shaohua Jiang^{b
,
,}

a Institute of Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China;
b Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
c School of Chemistry Biology and Material Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China;
d Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

Funds:

This research work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22202143

No. 22302140

No. 22575123), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (No. BK20241898), and Postgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Suzhou University of Science and Technology.

No. 22502135

No. 22372113

Received Date: 2026-03-04
Accepted Date: 2026-06-16
Rev Recd Date: 2026-06-01

Available Online: 2026-09-01

Publish Date: 2026-08-01

Abstract

Abstract

Developing efficient and durable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts based on wood-supported high-entropy alloy (HEA) nanoparticles (NPs) remains challenging due to the difficulty in achieving uniform dispersion of HEA, strong interfacial anchoring between HEA and carbonized wood (CW), and rational modulation of interfacial electronic configurations simultaneously. In this work, HEA NPs anchored on CW via graphitized carbon layer, denoted as FeCoCuRuM@CW (M = Mn, Cr, Ni), were successfully synthesized by a carbothermal shock strategy. Before carbothermal shock, the negatively charged CW enabled efficient adsorption of metal ions, thereby increasing the metal loading. Metals (Fe, Co, Cu, Ru, Mn, Cr, and Ni) with distinct electronegativities induced the formation of high-activity HEA NPs during the carbothermal shock process. Meanwhile, the graphitized carbon layer formed on the surface of HEA reinforced the interfacial anchoring between HEA NPs and CW, which in turn enhanced the stability. Compared with FeCoCuRuCr@CW and FeCoCuRuNi@CW, FeCoCuRuMn@CW exhibited the best HER performance, requiring only 28 mV to achieve 10 mA/cm² in 1.0 mol/L KOH along with excellent durability. Electronic modulation via Mn incorporation is the key, as the element with the lowest electronegativity, Mn donated electrons to Ru and the carbon matrix. This process optimized the d-band center and strengthened interfacial water polarization. This electronic redistribution lowered the water dissociation barrier to 0.759 eV and yielded a near-thermoneutral hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔG_*H of -0.381 eV for FeCoCuRuMn@CW, which is significantly more favorable than those of FeCoCuRuCr@CW (ΔG_*H = -1.861 eV) and FeCoCuRuNi@CW (ΔG_*H = -2.087 eV). This study highlighted an electronegativity-driven electronic modulation mechanism, coupled with the synergistic enhancement effect derived from carbon graphitization degree, thereby offering a novel strategy for the rational design of high-performance HEA-based electrocatalysts with reinforced carbon-HEA interfacial anchoring.
- Hydrogen evolution reaction,
- High-entropy alloy,
- Carbonized wood,
- Electronegativity modulation,
- Graphitization

FullText(HTML)

References(80)

References

[1]	Batchelor, T.A.A., Pedersen, J.K., Winther, S.H., Castelli, I.E., Jacobsen, K.W., Rossmeisl, J., 2019. High-entropy alloys as a discovery platform for electrocatalysis. Joule 3, 834-845.
[2]	Boettcher, S.W., 2024. Introduction to green hydrogen. Chem. Rev. 124, 13095-13098.
[3]	Chandran M, A., Dutta, P., Singh, P., Singh, A.K., Prasad, B.L. V., 2025. Design and synthesis of PtPdNiCoMn high-entropy alloy electrocatalyst for enhanced alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction: a theoretically supported predictive design approach. Adv. Funct. Mater. 35, 2418644.
[4]	Chen, J.H., Onah, O.E., Cheng, Y., Silva, K.J., Choi, C.H., Chen, W.Y., Xu, S.C., Eddy, L., Han, Y.M., Yakobson, B.I., Zhao, Y.F., Tour, J.M., 2025. Cathode-electrolyte interphase engineering toward fast-charging LiFePO₄ cathodes by flash carbon coating. Small Meth. 9, 2400680.
[5]	Chen, X., Wang, X.T., Le, J.B., Li, S.M., Wang, X., Zhang, Y.J., Radjenovic, P., Zhao, Y., Wang, Y.H., Lin, X.M., Dong, J.C., Li, J.F., 2023. Revealing the role of interfacial water and key intermediates at ruthenium surfaces in the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. Nat. Commun. 14, 5289.
[6]	Fan, Q.Q., Shao, Y.Y., Zhang, L.Z., Zhou, J., Wang, G.G., 2024a. A one-step facile synthesis of FCC Ru-RuO₂ activates superior bifunctionality toward overall alkaline water splitting. J. Mater. Chem. A 12, 27540-27548.
[7]	Fan, Y., Chen, Y.X., Ge, W.X., Dong, L., Qi, Y.B., Lian, C., Zhou, X.D., Liu, H.L., Liu, Z., Jiang, H.L., Li, C.Z., 2024b Mechanistic insights into surfactant-modulated electrode-electrolyte interface for steering H₂O₂ electrosynthesis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146, 7575-7583.
[8]	Fei, L.S., Sun, H.N., Li, Y., Gu, Y.X., Zhou, W., Shao, Z.P., 2025. Recent advances in innovative systems for electrocatalytic hydrogen production. Energy Environ. Sci. 18, 6456-6529.
[9]	Feidenhans’l, A.A., Regmi, Y.N., Wei, C., Xia, D., Kibsgaard, J., King, L.A., 2024. Precious metal free hydrogen evolution catalyst design and application. Chem. Rev. 124, 5617-5667.
[10]	Feng, D.Y., Dong, Y.B., Nie, P., Zhang, L., Qiao, Z.N., 2022. CoNiCuMgZn high entropy alloy nanoparticles embedded onto graphene sheets via anchoring and alloying strategy as efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. Chem. Eng. J. 430, 132883.
[11]	Geng, M.M., Zhu, Y.J., Guan, J.B., Zhang, R., Zou, Q., Wang, L.N., Guo, B.C., Zhang, M., 2024. Carbothermal shock synthesis of FeCoNiPtRu high-entropy alloy for dual-function water splitting in alkaline media. J. Alloys Compd. 1005, 176180.
[12]	Guo, M.H., Lin, Z.P., Du, W.X., 2024. Research progress of wood for hydrovoltaic generation. J. For. Eng. 9, 1-9.
[13]	Guo, W.J., Wang, Y.W., Shen, S.Y., Wang, H., Shao, K., Wang, Z.J., Shi, Y.R., Li, C.C., Sun, Q.F., Li, H.Q., 2025. Wood-inspired electrode for sustainable electrocatalytic energy conversion. SmartMat 6, e1326.
[14]	Han, L.L., Zhu, S.Y., Rao, Z.Y., Scheu, C., Ponge, D., Ludwig, A., Zhang, H.B., Gutfleisch, O., Hahn, H., Li, Z.M., Raabe, D., 2024. Multifunctional high-entropy materials. Nat. Rev. Mater. 9, 846-865.
[15]	He, Y.Z., Wu, J.Z., Hu, F.Y., Mao, L., Aminabhavi, T.M., Vasseghian, Y., Hojjati-Najafabadi, A., 2024. Self-supporting FeCoNiCuTiGa high-entropy alloy electrodes for alkaline hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions: experimental and theoretical insights. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 7, 9121-9133.
[16]	Huang, H.W., Jung, H., Li, S.F., Kim, S., Han, J.W., Lee, J., 2022. Activation of inert copper for significantly enhanced hydrogen evolution behaviors by trace ruthenium doping. Nano Energy 92, 106763.
[17]	Huang, J.L., Shi, Z.K., Mao, C.W., Yang, G.X., Chen, Y., 2024. Wood-structured nanomaterials as highly efficient, self-standing electrocatalysts for water splitting. Small 20, 2402511.
[18]	Huang, T.T., Xiao, J., Liu, X., Liu, X.Y., He, J.S., Jiang, J.H., Xu, G.C., Zhang, L., 2025. Engineering Ru and Ni sites relay catalysis and strong metal-support interaction for synergetic enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance. Chem. Eng. J. 509, 161348.
[19]	Huo, M.T., Li, Y.F., Li, Q.Y., Zhang, X.Y., Sun, X.R., Wang, H.Y., Xing, Z.H., Chang, J.F., 2025. Promoting mechanism of the Ru-integration effect in RuCo bimetallic nanoparticles for enhancing water splitting performance. Nano Res. 18, 94907243.
[20]	Jin, H.T., Zhang, T.Y., Tian, Z.W., Jiang, S.H., 2024. Study on capacitive performance of bamboo-derived thick carbon electrodes using one-step activation method. J. For. Eng. 9, 103-109.
[21]	Jing, L., Jie, G., Yu, W.Q., Ren, H.W., Cui, X.J., Chen, X., Jiang, L.H., 2023. A unique sandwich-structured Ru-TiO/TiO₂@NC as an efficient bi-functional catalyst for hydrogen oxidation and hydrogen evolution reactions. Chem. Eng. J. 472, 145009.
[22]	Kar, N., Skrabalak, S.E., 2025. Synthetic methods for high-entropy nanomaterials. Nat. Rev. Mater. 10, 638-653.
[23]	Li, B., Fei, S.Y., Liu, Z.L., Wang, C.S., Sun, Z.Q., Zhang, C.M., Yang, H.Q., Zhao, H.L., Zhang, Q., He, S.J., 2025a. Optimizing oxygen functional groups on porous carbon monoliths by green activation promotes seawater hydrogen evolution. Green Chem. 27, 3099-3107.
[24]	Li, C., Jang, H., Kim, M.G., Hou, L.Q., Liu, X.E., Cho, J., 2022. Ru-incorporated oxygen-vacancy-enriched MoO₂ electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. Appl. Catal. B Environ. Energy 307, 121204.
[25]	Li, Q.Q., Xu, Q.L., Pei, Z.X., Zhang, Z.X., Xu, W.L., Mao, J.Y., Shang, Q., Ni, Y.Q., Chen, Y.F., Chen, Y.T., Liu, X.H., Li, X.K., Zhang, Q., Yang, N.J., 2025b Bridged Mn-O-Ru motifs in RuO₂ catalyst promoting hydrogen production at ampere-level current density. Adv. Energy Mater. 16, 2500815.
[26]	Li, Y.J., Gao, T.T., Yao, Y.G., Liu, Z.Y., Kuang, Y.D., Chen, C.J., Song, J.W., Xu, S.M., Hitz, E.M., Liu, B.Y., Jacob, R.J., Zachariah, M.R., Wang, G.F., Hu, L.B., 2018. In situ “chainmail catalyst” assembly in low-tortuosity, hierarchical carbon frameworks for efficient and stable hydrogen generation. Adv. Energy Mater. 8, 1801289.
[27]	Li, Z., Wang, Y.S., Liu, H., Feng, Y., Du, X.W., Xie, Z.H., Zhou, J.H., Liu, Y., Song, Y., Wang, F., Sui, M.L., Lu, Y., Fang, F., Sun, D.L., 2025c. Electroreduction-driven distorted nanotwins activate pure Cu for efficient hydrogen evolution. Nat. Mater. 24, 424-432.
[28]	Liu, G.B., Song, C., Li, X.L., Jia, Q.S., Wu, P.F., Lou, Z.H., Ma, Y.S., Cui, X.J., Zhou, X., Jiang, L.H., 2025a. Defect-rich FeCoNiMnRu high-entropy alloys with activated interfacial water for boosting alkaline water/seawater hydrogen evolution. Chem. Eng. J. 509, 161070.
[29]	Liu, S.J., Wei, Y., Wang, M.K., Shen, Y., 2025b The future of alkaline water splitting from the perspective of electrocatalysts-seizing today’s opportunities. Coord. Chem. Rev. 522, 216190.
[30]	Liu, Y., Xiang, K.X., Zhou, W., Deng, W.N., Zhu, H., Chen, H., 2024. Investigations on tunnel-structure MnO₂ for utilization as a high-voltage and long-life cathode material in aqueous ammonium-ion and hybrid-ion batteries. Small 20, e2308741.
[31]	Lu, J.X., Yu, Z.C., Wei, X.T., Zhang, X.W., Wang, X., Liu, K., Cai, Y.H., Pan, H., Liu, D., Wang, Z.B., 2025. Fe/Co co-doping engineering for corrosion-resistant and effective seawater electrolysis. Adv. Mater. 38, e15156.
[32]	Ma, W.S., Zhang, Y.H., Wang, B.Y., Wang, J.C., Dai, Y.N., Hu, L.W., Lv, X.W., Dang, J., 2024. Significantly enhanced OER and HER performance of NiCo-LDH and NiCoP under industrial water splitting conditions through Ru and Mn bimetallic co-doping strategy. Chem. Eng. J. 494, 153212.
[33]	Mei, Y.J., Feng, Y.B., Zhang, C.X., Zhang, Y., Qi, Q.L., Hu, J., 2022. High-entropy alloy with Mo-coordination as efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction. ACS Catal. 12, 10808-10817.
[34]	Mu, L., Ying, J.F., Ou, Y.Y., Wang, Z.M., Liu, Y.Q., Zhao, N., Xue, M., Dai, Y.X., Zhao, G., 2025. Cation-anion modification and heterostructure for cooperative regulation of electron distribution in NiMoS/NiFeMn-LDH electrocatalyst to enhance water splitting. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 688, 106-117.
[35]	Nie, Y., Sun, Y.J., Song, B.Y., Meyer, Q., Liu, S.Y., Guo, H.Y., Tao, L., Lin, F.X., Luo, M.C., Zhang, Q.H., Gu, L., Yang, L.M., Zhao, C., Guo, S.J., 2024. Low-electronegativity Mn-contraction of PtMn nanodendrites boosts oxygen reduction durability. Angew. Chim. Int. Ed. 63, e202317987.
[36]	Noh, W.Y., Kazmouz, S.J., Lee, S.H., Peng, J.K., Shin, T.J., Shviro, M., 2025. Decoupling electrode kinetics to elucidate reaction mechanisms in alkaline water electrolysis. Energy Environ. Sci. 18, 8679-8696.
[37]	Odenweller, A., Ueckerdt, F., 2025. The green hydrogen ambition and implementation gap. Nat. Energy 10, 110-123.
[38]	Oshiya, R.A., Varghese, B., Datta, A., 2024. Role of electronegativity on the elemental diversity in high-entropy alloys. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146, 17995-18001.
[39]	Qin, Q., Jang, H., Jiang, X.L., Wang, L., Wang, X.F., Kim, M.G., Liu, S.G., Liu, X.E., Cho, J., 2024. Constructing interfacial oxygen vacancy and ruthenium lewis acid-base pairs to boost the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction kinetics. Angew. Chim. Int. Ed. 63, e202317622.
[40]	Ren, J.T., Chen, L., Wang, H.Y., Yuan, Z.Y., 2023. High-entropy alloys in electrocatalysis: from fundamentals to applications. Chem. Soc. Rev. 52, 8319-8373.
[41]	Sheng, X., Li, Y.Y., Yang, T.M., Timmer, B.J.J., Willhammar, T., Cheung, O., Li, L., Brett, C.J., Roth, S.V., Zhang, B.B., Fan, L.Z., Guo, Y.X., Zou, X.D., Berglund, L., Sun, L.C., 2020. Hierarchical micro-reactor as electrodes for water splitting by metal rod tipped carbon nanocapsule self-assembly in carbonized wood. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 264, 118536.
[42]	Shi, X.Q., Sun, Y.X., Lai, K.Z., Li, L.P., Li, N., Gao, Y.Q., Ge, L., 2026. Mn induced adsorption and orbital hybridization synergistically promote C-C coupling for highly selective photocatalytic CO₂-to-C₂H₄ conversion. Appl. Catal. B Environ. Energy 382, 126001.
[43]	Sun, H.C., Zhang, W., Li, J.G., Li, Z.S., Ao, X., Xue, K.H., Ostrikov, K.K., Tang, J., Wang, C.D., 2021. Rh-engineered ultrathin NiFe-LDH nanosheets enable highly-efficient overall water splitting and urea electrolysis. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 284, 119740.
[44]	Sun, Z.Q., Li, B., Wu, H., Fei, S.Y., Liu, Z.L., Zhang, C.M., Ye, X.F., Liang, Z.Y., Zhang, Q., He, S.J., 2025. Carbon-encapsulated nickel via cellulose acetate coordination for efficient hydrogen evolution reactions. Langmuir 41, 16519-16528.
[45]	Tong, H.M., Xu, S.J., Zheng, X.Y., Qi, M.Y., Zhu, J.J., Li, D., Jiang, D.L., 2025. Constructing dense CoRu-CoMoO₄ heterointerfaces with electron redistribution for synergistically boosted alkaline electrocatalytic water splitting. Small 21, 2409159.
[46]	Tang, L.B., Fan, X.K., Xiang, K.X., Zhou, W., Deng, W.N., Zhu, H., Chen, L., Zheng, J.C., Chen, H., 2026. Coupling abundant active sites and an ultra-short ion diffusion path: R-VO₂/carbon nanotube composite microspheres boosted the performance of aqueous ammonium-ion batteries. Chem. Sci. 17, 5731-5744.
[47]	Tian, Z.W., Guo, Z.X., Duan, G.G., Huang, Y., Li, W.J., Han, X.S., Zhang, C.M., He, S.J., Mao, H.M., Jiang, S.H., 2025. Breaking the kinetics-load dilemma in zinc-ion capacitor thick electrodes via structure-interface synergy: hierarchical nanoarchitectures with dual-site adsorption energetics modulation. Energy Storage Mater. 79, 104347.
[48]	Wan, Y., Wei, W.R., Ding, S.Q., Wu, L., Qin, H.Y., Yuan, X.X., 2025. A multi-site synergistic effect in high-entropy alloy for efficient hydrogen evolution. Adv. Funct. Mater. 35, 2414554.
[49]	Wang, C.S., Ye, X.F., Li, B., Sun, Z.Q., Zhang, C.M., Luo, X., Fei, S.Y., Yang, Y.L., Yang, H.Q., Zhang, Q., He, S.J., 2025a. Boosting water splitting performance through interfacial electronic modulation for carbon monolith supported Co9S8/Cr2S3 nanoparticles. Appl. Surf. Sci. 713, 164337.
[50]	Wang, H., Jiang, H.M., Niu, Y.Q., Siddiqui, N.A., Khan, A., Pan, L., Lin, J.J., 2025b Three-dimensional structured of V-doped CoP in situ grown on MXene as highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting. Nano Res. 18, 94907238.
[51]	Wang, J., Kong, H., Zhang, J.Y., Hao, Y., Shao, Z.P., Ciucci, F., 2021. Carbon-based electrocatalysts for sustainable energy applications. Prog. Mater. Sci. 116, 100717.
[52]	Wang, J., Xu, F., Jin, H.Y., Chen, Y.Q., Wang, Y., 2017. Non-noble metal-based carbon composites in hydrogen evolution reaction: fundamentals to applications. Adv. Mater. 29, 1605838.
[53]	Wang, K.J., Cui, X.Y., Zhao, J.X., Wang, Q., Zhao, X., 2025c. Atomic-level insights for engineering interfacial hydrogen microenvironments of metal-based catalysts for alkaline hydrogen electrocatalysis. Energy Environ. Sci. 18, 5811-5832.
[54]	Wang, M., Li, Y.K., Jia, J.F., Ghosh, T., Luo, P., Shen, Y.J., Wang, S.B., Zhang, J.G., Xi, S.B., Mi, Z.Y., Zhang, M.S., Leow, W.R., Johannessen, B., Aabdin, Z., Hung, S.F., Zhang, J., Lum, Y., 2025d Tuning catalyst-support interactions enable steering of electrochemical CO₂ reduction pathways. Sci. Adv. 11, eado5000.
[55]	Wang, S.W., Guo, Z.B., Wang, L.G., Zeng, Y., Liang, X., Dong, F., Zhu, P., Liu, H., Wang, D.S., Li, Y.D., 2024. Atomically dispersed palladium catalyst for chemoselective hydrogenation of quinolines. Nano Lett. 24, 12666-12675.
[56]	Wang, S.Y., Duan, G.G., Han, X.S., Shi, Q., Huang, Y., Zhang, C.M., He, S.J., Zhao, H.L., Ma, C.X., Jiang, S.H., 2025e. Advanced high-entropy alloys for nanoelectrocatalysts: characterization, structure design, preparation and applications. Chem. Eng. J. 516, 164072.
[57]	Wang, X.H., Li, C.Y., Wang, B., Yang, L.P., Zhao, E.X., Zhang, S.Y., Wang, H.X., Kou, S.Z., 2026. Ta-microalloying-mediated coupling between strength-ductility synergy and soft magnetic properties in Fe-Co-Ni-Al-Cu high-entropy alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng. B 324, 119030.
[58]	Wang, Y., Yu, B., He, M., Zhai, Z.H., Yin, K.B., Kong, F.G., Zhang, Z.H., 2022. Eutectic-derived high-entropy nanoporous nanowires for efficient and stable water-to-hydrogen conversion. Nano Res. 15, 4820-4826.
[59]	Weng, Y.L., Zhang, J.P., Zhang, K., Lu, Y.T., Huang, T.T., Kang, Y.B., Han, X.T., Qiu, J.S., 2025. Recent progress in functional carbon-based materials for advanced electrocatalysis. Chin. J. Catal. 76, 10-36.
[60]	Wen, X.Y., Li, W., Chen, H., Zhou, W., Xiang, K.X., 2025. Zn₃V₃O₈ nanorods with outstanding electrochemical kinetics as novel anode for aqueous ammonium-ion batteries. Rare Met. 44, 3881-3892.
[61]	Xue, Z.H., Mahmood, J., Shang, Y.X., Li, G.X., Kim, S.J., Han, Y., Yavuz, C.T., 2025. Simple and scalable introduction of single-atom Mn on RuO₂ electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction with long-term activity and stability. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 147, 17839-17848.
[62]	Yan, B., Zheng, J.J., Feng, L., Du, C., Jian, S.J., Yang, W.S., Wu, Y.A., Jiang, S.H., He, S.J., Chen, W., 2022. Wood-derived biochar as thick electrodes for high-rate performance supercapacitors. Biochar 4, 50.
[63]	Yang, W.X., Zhang, W.Y., Liu, R., Lv, F., Chao, Y.G., Wang, Z.C., Guo, S.J., 2022a. Amorphous Ru nanoclusters onto Co-doped 1D carbon nanocages enables efficient hydrogen evolution catalysis. Chin. J. Catal. 43, 110-115.
[64]	Yang, X.D., Wang, L.L., Tong, J., Shao, X.Q., Chen, R., Yang, Q., Li, F.F., Xue, B., Li, G.D., Han, Y., Yang, X.Z., Zimmerman, A.R., Gao, B., 2022b Synthesis of hickory biochar via one-step acidic ball milling: characteristics and titan yellow adsorption. J. Clean. Prod. 338, 130575.
[65]	You, M.Z., Du, X., Hou, X.H., Wang, Z.Y., Zhou, Y., Ji, H.P., Zhang, L.Y., Zhang, Z.T., Yi, S.S., Chen, D.L., 2022. In-situ growth of ruthenium-based nanostructure on carbon cloth for superior electrocatalytic activity towards HER and OER. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 317, 121729.
[66]	Yu, S.X., Lu, Z.Y., Chen, L., Xu, C., Zhou, J., Lizundia, E., Chen, C.J., 2026. Electrically conductive wood-based materials beyond biochar: modifications, functions, and environmental impact. Matter 9, 102528.
[67]	Zeng, S.Y., Duan, G.G., Yu, R.Z., Qin, Q., He, S.J., Jiang, S.H., Yang, H.Q., Han, X.S., Han, J.Q., Xia, B.Y., 2025. Microstructure and bionic engineering of triphase reaction interface for zinc-air batteries. Prog. Mater. Sci. 147, 101356.
[68]	Zhang, C., Wang, Z.L., Liu, C., Bai, Y., Liang, C.H., Low, J., Xiong, Y.J., 2025a. Rapid synthesis of subnanoscale high-entropy alloys with ultrahigh durability. Nat. Mater. 25, 26-34.
[69]	Zhang, H.Y., Zhou, H., Wang, H., Wang, Y.K., Yang, X.H., Wu, D., Yuan, P., He, M.S., Wei, W.X., Yang, T., 2025b Multihybridization for enhancing Fe-Ni bimetal electrocatalyst in water oxidation. Adv. Energy Mater. 15, 2403464.
[70]	Zhang, J.M., Xu, X.P., Yang, L., Cheng, D.J., Cao, D.P., 2019. Single-atom Ru doping induced phase transition of MoS₂ and S vacancy for hydrogen evolution reaction. Small Meth. 3, 1900653.
[71]	Zhang, K., Liu, X.Z., Fan, X.Q., Sun, C.Y., Li, X.Q., Liang, B.N., Dong, X.F., Tang, J.F., Yin, R., Sun, L.X., Guo, M.H., Zhang, Y., Gan, W.T., 2026. An efficient, low-cost surface activation toward multifunctional wood manufacturing. ACS Nano 20, 326-337.
[72]	Zhang, Y., Li, H., Liu, X., Hui, Z.X., Chen, Z.W., Li, J., Wen, Z., Yang, C.C., Jiang, Q., 2025d Sub-3 nm high-entropy alloy nanoparticles with triple functionalities for efficient electrolytic hydrogen production. Adv. Mater. 37, e08975.
[73]	Zhang, Y.Q., Liu, M., Wang, H.Y., Zhang, X.H., Li, Z.G., Li, W., Li, N., Bu, X.H., 2025c. Interfacial Ni-O-Ru bridges manipulate d-band center of dual-metal site catalysts for efficient water splitting. ACS Catal. 15, 11082-11092.
[74]	Zhang, Z.X., Yu, P.P., Liu, Z.J., Liu, K., Mu, Z.R., Wen, Z.B., She, J.L., Bai, Y.K., Zhang, Q., Cheng, T., Gao, C.B., 2025e. Off-equilibrium hydrothermal synthesis of high-entropy alloy nanoparticles. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 147, 9640-9652.
[75]	Zhao, G., Lu, K., Li, Y.N., Lu, F.G., Gao, P., Nan, B., Li, L.N., Zhang, Y.X., Xu, P.T., Liu, X., Chen, L.W., 2024. An efficient and stable high-entropy alloy electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction. Chin. J. Catal. 62, 156-165.
[76]	Zhao, H., Ni, B.X., Pan, Y.Y., Li, Y.Z., Li, J., Wang, G.L., Zou, Z.Q., Jiang, K., Cheng, Q.Q., Zu, L.H., Yang, H., 2025a. Key role of bridge adsorbed hydrogen intermediate on Pt-Ru pair for efficient acidic hydrogen production. Adv. Mater. 37, 2503221.
[77]	Zhao, K.Y., Xiang, N.Y., Wang, Y.Q., Ye, J.Y., Jin, Z.H., Fu, L.K., Chang, X.X., Wang, D., Xiao, H., Xu, B.J., 2025b A molecular design strategy to enhance hydrogen evolution on platinum electrocatalysts. Nat. Energy 10, 725-736.
[78]	Zhong, S., Zhou, H.Y., Ren, S.Y., Hu, K.S., Ren, W., Chen, J.W., Zhu, Z.S., Duan, X.G., Wang, S.B., 2025. Pulse-driven electrocatalysis with engineered wooden electrode for high-efficiency, energy-saving and sustainable water treatment. Nat. Water 3, 890-901.
[79]	Zhou, Y., Hao, W., Zhao, X.X., Zhou, J.D., Yu, H.M., Lin, B., Liu, Z., Pennycook, S.J., Li, S.Z., Fan, H.J., 2022. Electronegativity-induced charge balancing to boost stability and activity of amorphous electrocatalysts. Adv. Mater. 34, 2100537.
[80]	Zhou, Y., Zhao, L., Xu, G.Y., Wang, N., Chen, X.M., Wang, Z.L., Kong, D.Y., Yang, X., Meng, C., 2025. H* site-blocking alleviated through collaborative copper alloying for large-current hydrogen production. Adv. Energy Mater. 15, 2501852.