Au core@AuPtRh alloy shell nanowires for ethanol oxidation

The highly active, selective and stable anode electrocatalysts for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) are extremely desirable for the application of direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). Herein, one-dimensional Au core@AuPt0·20Rh0.08 alloy shell nanowires (Au@AuPt0·20Rh0.08 CS-NWs) with long aspect ratio and cross-linked network architecture are synthesized. For the EOR, Au@AuPt0·20Rh0.08 CS-NWs display higher peak current density, better resistance to CO poisoning and more lasting stability compared with Au@AuPt0.28 CS-NWs and commercial Pt black electrocatalyst, which can be attributed to the trimetallic synergistic effect between the Au, Pt and Rh atoms. Specifically, the Rh can promote the C–C bonds and adsorb OHads while Au can change the electronic structure of Pt, endowing Pt with a high anti-poisoning ability to COads and promoting the complete oxidation of various C1 intermediate to CO2. This work provides an effective strategy for the rational construction of high-performance Pt-based EOR electrocatalysts by optimizing composition, morphology and architecture.