PtIrM (M = Ni, Co) jagged nanowires for efficient methanol oxidation electrocatalysis.

It remains a huge challenge to develop methanol oxidation electrocatalysts with remarkable catalytic activity and anti-CO poisoning capability. Herein, PtIrNi and PtIrCo jagged nanowires are successfully synthesized via a facile wet-chemical approach. Pt and Ir components are concentrated in the exterior and Ni is concentrated in the interior of PtIrNi jagged nanowires, while PtIrCo jagged nanowires feature the homogeneous distribution of constituent metals. The PtIrNi and PtIrCo jagged nanowires exhibit mass activities of 1.88 A/mg and 1.85 A/mg, respectively, 3.24 and 3.19 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C (0.58 A/mg). In-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicates that CO was formed at a very low potential for both nanowires, in line with the high ratio of forward current density to backward current density for PtIrNi jagged nanowires (1.30) and PtIrCo jagged nanowires (1.46) relative to Pt/C (0.76). Also, the CO stripping and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results substantiate the remarkable CO tolerance of the jagged nanowires. Besides, the two jagged nanowires possess exceptional activities toward ethanol and ethylene glycol oxidation reactions. This work provides a novel line of thought in terms of rational design of alcohol oxidation electrocatalysts with distinctive nanostructures.