Au@Ir core-shell nanowires towards oxygen reduction reaction

Noble metal based one-dimensionally (1D) bimetallic nanostructures are attracting increasing interest in energy conversion field because of their structural advantages and tunable chemical composition. At present, the facile and efficient synthesis of high-quality Au-core noble metal-shell nanowires still maintains the challenge. Herein, we develop a feasible one-pot chemical-reduction strategy to rapidly synthesize high-quality Au@Ir core–shell nanowires (Au@Ir CSNWs) in 1-naphthol ethanol solution and explore their potential application in electrocatalysis. Expermattial results show the formation core–shell structure originates from the deposition-growth of Ir atoms at preferentially generated Au nanowires surface. When using as an electrocatalyst towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media, Au@Ir CSNWs show Pt-like ORR electroactivity due to the compositional synergism effect and structural advantages of 1D nanowires, accompanying with excellent durability and extremely enhanced methanol tolerance towards ORR.