3D Anisotropic Au@Pt-Pd Hemispherical Nanostructures as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Methanol, Ethanol, and Formic Acid Oxidation Reaction.

Liang, Wenkai; Wang, Yawen; Zhao, Liang; Guo, Wei; Li, Dong; Qin, Wei; Wu, Haihua; Sun, Yinghui et al. · Adv Mater · 2021

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Anisotropic 3D nanostructures exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability due to their heterogeneous elemental distribution and unsymmetrical configuration. However, it is still a huge challenge to combine anisotropically distributed elements and anisotropic morphologies within one 3D nanostructure. Herein, 3D Au@Pt-Pd hemispherical nanostructures (Au@Pt-Pd H-Ss) are fabricated as highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxidation reaction, which present heterogenous element distribution and anisotropic morphology. It is demonstrated that the non-uniform adsorption of BO<sub>2</sub> <sup>-</sup> on Au-CTA<sup>+</sup> surface, as well as the simulated lower formation energy of Pt-Pd atoms for Au-CTA<sup>+</sup> -BO<sub>2</sub> <sup>-</sup> , basically contribute to the eventual formation of Au@Pt-Pd H-Ss. Impressively, the unique anisotropic Au@Pt-Pd H-Ss exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and durability for methanol, ethanol, and formic acid oxidation reaction compared with commercial Pt/C and previously reported noble-metal based electrocatalysts. Especially, the mass activity of Au@Pt-Pd H-Ss for MOR is 4.38 A mg<sub>Pt+Pd</sub> <sup>-1</sup> , which is about 2.0 and 4.7 times that of Au@Pt-Pd spherical nanostructures (Au@Pt-Pd Ss) and commercial Pt/C catalyst, respectively. This work provides an important reference for the design and preparation of 3D anisotropic and high-efficiency electrocatalysts.