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

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 BO2− on Au-CTA+ surface, as well as the simulated lower formation energy of Pt–Pd atoms for Au-CTA+-BO2-, 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 mgPt+Pd-1, 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.