Ultralong (∼25-30 μm) surface-Pt-rich Au93Pt7 alloy nanowires (ANWs) were achieved by a directional coalescence between spherical nanoparticles. Also, the ANWs exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and long-term durability towards ethanol oxidation, ∼12 times in the mass activity better than the state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C catalyst.

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Three-dimensional (3D) porous Au nanocoral network (GNN) structure was fabricated on glassy carbon (GC) electrode by one-step, template-free electrodeposition and decorated with ultrathin Pt film by combining the underpotential deposition (UPD) of copper adatoms and the galvanic displacement (GD) between PtCl and Cu. The thickness of Pt atomic layers can be controlled precisely by repeating the UPD-GD process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were employed to characterize the morphology of GNN and Pt n /GNN (n, the cycles of repeating the UPD-GD process). Cyclic voltammometric and chronoamperometric tests indicate that all Pt n /GNN samples effectively support the direct oxidation of formic acid and show higher electrocatalytic performance than the commercial Pt/C catalyst (Pt, 20 wt %, Johnson Matthey Co.), where Pt 1 /GNN completely eliminates the indirect oxidation of formic acid, exhibiting the best electrocatalytic activity and stability among all Pt n /GNN samples due to the optimal coverage and distribution of Pt atoms on GNN.