Single-step aqueous synthesis of AuPt alloy nanodendrites with superior electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution reaction

Herein, well-dispersed porous AuPt alloy nanodendrites (AuPt NDs) were facilely synthesized by a single-step seedless approach by using 5-aminouracil-6-carboxylic acid (AUCA) as the capping agent and weak stabilizer. The architectures showed large electrochemically active surface area (29.67 m(2) g(-1)) and enhanced catalytic performances for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) both in acid and alkaline media. Specifically, the mass activity and specific activity of the as-made catalyst were 31.55 mA mg(-1) and 2.65 mA cm(-2) (0.1 M HClO4), 29.49 mA mg(-1) and 2.5 mA cm(-2) (0.1 M KOH) for ORR, respectively, along with a notably low Tafel slope of 34 mV dec(-1) (0.5 M H2SO4) and 55 mV dec(-1) (0.1 M KOH) towards HER. This synthetic approach can be explored to fabricate other catalysts with improved catalytic performances in fuel cells and renewable energy. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.