Bimetallic alloy Pt/Ag nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic activity for formic acid oxidation

Abstract

Here, we report the synthesis of Pt/Ag bimetallic alloy catalyst through combining the ion implantation and electrodeposition method. Ag nanoparticles are employed as the seeds for the growth of Pt nanoparticles. Pt/Ag alloy catalyst demonstrates much higher catalytic activity than pure Pt catalyst, which is about three times more active on the basis of equivalent Pt electrochemically active surface area than that of the pure Pt catalyst. The ion implantation of Ag efficiently enhances the catalytic activity of Pt catalyst for formic acid oxidation.