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 ele...
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.
An anisotropic 3D nanocatalyst with both morphological and elemental anisotropy shows excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability due to its special uneven distribution and asymmetric nanostructure characteristics. The 3D anisotropic hemispherical nanostructures prepared in this work exhibit remarkable electrocatalytic activity and stability, which provides an inspiration for the creative synthesis of highly efficient electrocatalysts with 3D anisotropic nanostructures.