Laser-assisted synthesis of PtPd alloy for efficient ethanol oxidation

The inefficiency of ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) presents a significant obstacle in harnessing renewable biofuels with high energy density into electricity. Despite efforts, most Pt-based catalysts still suffer from drawbacks such as poor activity and susceptibility to CO poisoning, particularly in acidic conditions. Herein, we employed a physical laser-assisted approach to synthetize a PtPd alloy with a 1:1 atomic ratio. This alloy demonstrates remarkable performance in acidic EOR, boasting a high mass activity of 1.86 A·mg_Pt⁻¹ and competitive resistance to poisoning. Combining in situ synchrotron radiation infrared spectroscopy with theoretical calculations, we reveal that the synergic interaction between Pt and Pd enhances both the adsorption of OH* intermediate and the dehydrogenation ability of ethanol. This work will prove the feasibility of synthesizing bimetallic alloys by a physical laser-assisted strategy and promote the development of advanced alloy electrocatalysts.