Design of AgM Bimetallic Alloy Nanostructures (M = Au, Pd, Pt) with Tunable Morphology and Peroxidase-Like Activity

Bimetallic alloy nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit unique optical and catalytic properties that are dependent on their morphology and composition. In this paper, a general and facile way was developed to prepare Ag-related bimetallic alloy NPs with hollow/porous structures, including AgAu, AgPd, and AgPt. The formation of the alloy structures is evidenced by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (STEM-EDX) mapping, and ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-vis-NIR) absorption spectra. AgM alloy NPs exhibit peroxidase-like activity. A unique composition dependence is found and can be used to tailor the catalytic activity. In addition to the recent discoveries about peroxidase mimetics on Fe3O4 NPs and sheetlike FeS nanostructures, our findings suggest a new type of candidate as peroxidase mimics. Furthermore, for noble metals, apart from size and shape, tailoring the composition poses another effective way to tune the catalytic activity.