AuAg@Pt Nanowires with Controlled Electronic and Morphological Characteristics for Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis

Developing highly active and durable electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is critical for the widespread use of next‐generation power sources, such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Herein, we report the synthesis of 1D AuAg@Pt core–shell nanowires (AuAg@Pt NWs) as an advanced ORR catalyst. A unique feature of this catalyst is a significant counterintuitive compressive strain applied to its Pt shell, which can be attributed to the high density of grain boundaries in the AuAg NW core. This strain can induce a downward shift of the Pt d‐band center, leading to an optimized binding energy for oxygen species. Consequently, the prepared AuAg@Pt NWs exhibited enhanced ORR activity compared to core–shell nanorods with a low density of grain boundaries and a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Furthermore, they showed outstanding durability for repeated ORR operation due to their 1D wire structure that can effectively protect them against particle agglomeration. This work highlights a rational design strategy that combines electronic and morphological engineering to devise advanced, stable electrocatalysts.