Mesoporous Bimetallic Au@Rh Core-Shell Nanowires as Efficient Electrocatalysts for pH-Universal Hydrogen Evolution

Electrochemical water splitting is one hopeful strategy for hydrogen production, and designing efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts under universal pH is one of the most critical topics. Here, we have successfully prepared mesoporous bimetallic core-shell nanostructures with Au nanowires (Au NWs) as cores and mesoporous Rh as shells (Au@mRh NWs). Due to the one-dimensional structure and mesoporous core-shell structure, Au@mRh NWs possess more active sites and provide the synergistic effect, leading to the great improvement of the electrochemical activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction under a wide range of pH. The present work proposes a versatile strategy for preparing a bimetallic core-shell structure with a mesoporous shell, which is highly promising for more electrocatalytic applications.

Automated summary

The study successfully prepared mesoporous bimetallic core-shell nanostructures with more active sites and a synergistic effect, leading to a significant improvement in electrochemical activity towards the hydrogen evolution reaction across a wide pH range. This versatile strategy for preparing bimetallic core-shell structures with a mesoporous shell shows high potential for various electrocatalytic applications.