Gear effect between SnO2 nanotubes support and AuPdCu catalyst promotes efficient ethanol oxidation reaction

Modulating the electronic interaction between catalysts and supports is recognized as an effective strategy to enhance catalytic performance. However, due to the complex electronic or coordination environments at the catalyst-support interface, designing supports capable of anchoring complex-structured metal nanoparticles (NPs) remains a challenge. Herein, we designed porous SnO 2 nanotubes (NTs) using an electrospinning and chemical etching strategy and successfully anchored nanoflower-like AuPdCu NPs composed of self-assembled nanowires onto their surface. The porous structure of SnO 2 NTs provides abundant anchoring sites for AuPdCu NPs. Furthermore, the petal-like structure of the AuPdCu NPs is firmly bonded to the pores of the SnO 2 NTs through a gear-like interlocking mechanism, resulting in a strong bond between the catalyst and support. The unique structural advantages of AuPdCu/SnO 2 , along with the electronic interaction between the support and catalyst, synergistically enhance catalytic performance. AuPdCu/SnO 2 exhibits a high mass activity of 4.53 A·mg Pd −1 for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) and maintains a high current density (3.39 mA cm −2 ) after a 10000 s stability test. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that the electronic interaction between AuPdCu NPs and SnO 2 NTs modulates the d-band center, thereby optimizing the adsorption strength of reaction intermediates and promoting the complete oxidation of ethanol.