Ultrathin AgPt alloy nanowires as a high-performance electrocatalyst for formic acid oxidation

To address the insufficient electrocatalytic activity and stability of formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) electrocatalysts, as well as their high cost, we herein demonstrate the facile hydrothermal synthesis of ultrathin AgPt alloy nanowires using amine-terminated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM-NH2) as a structure-directing agent. The initial generation of AgCl precipitates, subsequent formation of AgPt nanoparticles, and their oriented attachment account for the formation of ultrathin AgPt alloy nanowires. Benefiting from their unique 1D anisotropy and alloyed composition, the prepared ultrathin AgPt nanowires exhibit a superior electrocatalytic activity and better CO tolerance for the FAOR, reaching a 1.6-fold and 3.7-fold higher specific current density than AgPt nanoparticles and a commercial Pt black catalyst, respectively. Additionally, the ultrathin AgPt alloy nanowires manifest a superior electrochemical stability and structural robustness during electrocatalysis, making them a promising FAOR electrocatalyst. This work not only provides a reliable strategy for the synthesis of noble metal-based ultrathin nanowires, but also opens an avenue towards the rational design of efficient electrocatalysts for fuel cell systems.