Construction of Hetero-Phase PdSnP Nanowires by Doping Phosphorus Atoms for Enhanced Alcohol Oxidation

Heterophase palladium-based nanocatalysts, distinguished by their abundant interfacial defects, exhibit exceptional electrocatalytic efficiency by offering a multitude of active sites for the reactions. However, the synthesis and precise compositional control of these heterophase structures pose considerable challenges. In this research, heterophase PdSnP nanowire catalysts with abundant crystalline–amorphous interfacial defects were successfully synthesized through phosphorus doping. When the phosphorus atom infiltrates the crystal lattice of palladium, it causes the lattice to distort and transition into an amorphous structure. By precise management of the concentration of phosphorus atoms, a well-defined mixed phase structure that combines crystalline and amorphous states can be successfully achieved. Notably, the resulting heterophase PdSnP nanowire catalyst, characterized by its abundant interfacial defects, demonstrated remarkable catalytic performance in the electrocatalytic oxidation of both methanol and ethanol. Specifically, for the methanol oxidation reaction, the mass and specific activities of the PdSn 0.36 P 0.25 nanocatalyst reached 3343 mA mg Pd –1 and 10.55 mA cm –2, which are 6.3 and 3.3 times higher than those of commercial Pd/C (530 mA mg Pd –1, 3.21 cm –2 ). Similarly, for the ethanol oxidation reaction, the mass and specific activities were 3240 mA mg Pd –1 and 10.23 cm –2, which are 6.2 and 3.2 times higher than those of commercial Pd/C (527 mA mg Pd –1, 3.19 mA cm –2 ). This study provides valuable insights and establishes a benchmark for the design and synthesis of high-efficiency electrocatalysts specifically tailored for methanol and ethanol oxidation.