Au core-porous Pd shell loaded Au nanoparticles superstructures as efficient electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction

Integrated metallic nanomaterials composed of more than one type of metal expands the functionalities and nanocatalysts due to the multidimensional and synergistic effects. For a porous core-shell nanoparticles (NPs), there are abundant undercoordinated active sites and remarkable electron/mass transports, and the multimetallic synergy can improve the catalytic activity and durability. Here, a successive seed-mediated growth method was employed to synthesize Au core-porous Pd shell loaded Au NPs (denoted as Au@Pd-Au) superstructures. The introduction of Au particles on the surface of Au core-porous Pd shell NPs prevents oxidation of the porous Pd surfaces. Taking advantage of the porous superstructures and bimetallic synergy, the electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation performance, including activity and durability, of the Au@Pd-Au superstructures were significantly enhanced. We thus believe that the Au@Pd-Au superstructures with novel morphologies and functionalities can become an attractive electrocatalyst in direct ethanol fuel cells.