title: Neuron-like gold-palladium alloy nanostructures: Rapid synthesis and applications in electrocatalysis and surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
abstract: Neuron-like gold-palladium (AuPd) alloy nanostructures were synthesized by simultaneous reduction of AuCl4(-) and PdCl4(2-) with ascorbic acid, using N-methylimidazole as the structure-director and stabilizing agent. The synthesis method was simple and seedless, without any template or polymer. The architectures strongly depended on the concentration of N-methylimidazole, reaction temperature and time, and hence the formation mechanism was described in detail. The as-obtained architectures exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) responses, owing to their unique nanostructures with high density of steps, edges, and corners on their branches, along with the synergetic functions between Au and Pd.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Life Science, College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Life Science, College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Life Science, College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
authors.forename: Ai-Jun
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Life Science, College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China. Electronic address: jjfeng@zjnu.cn.
authors.forename: Jiu-Ju
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Feng
keywords: Bimetallic alloy; Ethanol oxidation reaction; N-methylimidazole; Neuron-like nanostructures; Surface-enhanced Raman scattering