Au@PdAg core–shell nanotubes as advanced electrocatalysts for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline media

Wenke Yang; Qing Zhang; Cheng Peng; Eyu Wu; Shaowei Chen; Yanyun Ma; Jie Hou; Yuexiao He; Bangkai Zhang; Lifei Deng

doi:10.1039/C8RA08781D

Au@PdAg core–shell nanotubes as advanced electrocatalysts for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline media†

Wenke Yang,^a Qing Zhang,^a Cheng Peng,

*^ab Eyu Wu,^a Shaowei Chen,

*^b Yanyun Ma,

^c Jie Hou,^a Yuexiao He,^a Bangkai Zhang^a and Lifei Deng^a

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* Corresponding authors

^a College of Materials Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, PR China
E-mail: chengpeng@hqu.edu.cn
Fax: +86 592 6162225
Tel: +86 592 6162225

^b Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA
E-mail: shaowei@ucsc.edu
Tel: +1 831 4595841

^c Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China

Abstract

Developing active and cost-effective electrocatalysts for methanol electrooxidation is crucial to the commercialization of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). In this study, Au@PdAg core–shell nanotubes are synthesized in an aqueous solution by sequential galvanic displacement between Ag nanowires and AuCl₄⁻ and PdCl₄²⁻. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies demonstrate that the obtained Au@PdAg nanotubes consist of a Au-rich interior that is encapsulated with a three-dimensionally dendritic, porous PdAg alloy shell, forming a core–sheath nanostructure. Electrochemical studies indicate that the as-prepared Au@PdAg nanotubes exhibit apparent electrocatalytic activity and stability towards methanol electrooxidation in alkaline media. This remarkable high performance can be attributed to their large specific surface area and unique porous morphology.

RSC Advances

Au@PdAg core–shell nanotubes as advanced electrocatalysts for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline media†

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Au@PdAg core–shell nanotubes as advanced electrocatalysts for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline media

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