Formic acid-regulated growth of AgPt binary nanoalloys with enhanced catalytic activity for dye degradation and water splitting
摘要
Silver–platinum (AgPt) binary nanoalloys were fabricated via a liquid-phase deposition strategy using formic acid (FA) with various concentrations. The synthesis resulted in a two-dimensional AgPt nanoferns structure with high crystallinity and uniform elemental distribution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed strong electronic interactions between Ag and Pt, indicating successful alloy formation. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the AgPt nanoferns exhibit outstanding multifunctional catalytic activity toward methylene blue degradation and water splitting. The catalyst prepared with 0.5 mM FA delivered the highest performance, achieving a turnover number of 3.2 × 103 within 5 min and a turnover frequency of 2.5 × 102 min⁻1, along with the lowest Tafel slope of 136 mV dec⁻1. The enhanced catalytic efficiency is primarily attributed to the synergistic Ag–Pt interaction and the unique nanoferns morphology, which provide abundant active sites and promote rapid charge transfer. This work demonstrates a rational strategy for designing an efficient bimetallic electrocatalyst for environmental remediation and sustainable energy conversion.