Universal synthesis of highly active PdM (Sb, Ir, and Bi) nanowire networks for ethylene glycol and glycerol electrooxidation

One-dimensional (1D) Pd-based nanowire materials, characterized by high aspect ratios and exposed high-index crystal surfaces, are widely developed in the field of direct fuel cells. However, their synthesis methods are often not universal and necessitate demanding conditions, including high temperatures and metal templates, leading to resource consumption. In this study, we present a simple and universal one-step method for synthesizing PdM (Sb, Ir, and Bi) nanowire networks (NNWs) at room temperature. Leveraging their structural advantages and the synergistic effects between bimetals, PdM NNWs demonstrate exceptional electrocatalytic performance, exhibiting higher mass and specific activities as well as enhanced durability compared to Pd/C for the ethylene glycol and glycerol oxidation reactions. Notably, PdSb NNWs excelled in electrochemical tests, achieving the highest mass activities of 7.55 and 5.59 A mg −1 for the ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR) and glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR), respectively. Additionally, due to the semi-metallic properties of Sb, which can flexibly modify the chemical environment of Pd, the PdSb NNWs exhibited superior antitoxicity and a significantly lower decay of current density across three consecutive chronoamperometry (CA) tests. This research advances the synthesis of palladium-based nanostructures, providing impetus for the design of highly efficient electrocatalysts in the realm of direct alcohol fuel cells.