Galvanic replacement-driven fabrication of photoactive Cu-Pt and Cu-Pd bimetallic fabrics for LSPR-mediated catalytic reduction of ferricyanide

• Galvanic replacement reactions are used to synthesise bimetallic Cu-Pt and Cu-Pd nanoparticles on fabric surfaces. • Adding Pt and Pd enhances the localised surface plasmon resonance of Cu nanoparticles. • The bimetallic nano-embedded fabrics show superior catalytic performance under visible light illumination. • Better electron transport at the catalyst/reactant interface during light illumination results in enhanced catalytic performance. Catalytic reduction of ferricyanide to its less toxic form, ferrocyanide, is an effective strategy for reducing its toxicity. Herein, we report the use of Cu-Pt and Cu-Pd bimetallic fabrics fabricated using galvanic replacement (GR) reactions as efficient catalysts for ferricyanide reduction in the presence of excess thiosulfate. The addition of Pt and Pd to the Cu nanoparticles enhanced the LSPR properties of the bimetallic nanostructures, which allowed better catalytic performance under visible light illumination. The nano- and micro-scale structures in cotton fabrics expose a large number of catalytically active sites, which, combined with their high porosity and wettability, create ideal catalyst surfaces to achieve superior catalytic activity, catalyst recovery, and reusability. Electrochemical studies revealed better electron transport at the catalyst/reactant interface under visible-light illumination, which enhanced catalytic activity. These results improve our understanding of template-supported bimetallic nanostructures for LSPR-induced photocatalytic applications and offer new potential for the design of multifunctional fabrics.