Three-dimensional hyperbranched PdCu nanostructures with high electrocatalytic activity.

In this study, three-dimensional (3D) PdCu alloyed nanostructures, consisting of one-dimensional (1D) branches, were successfully synthesized through a facile wet-chemical method without using any seeds or organic solvent. The success of this approach relies on the use of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to control the reduction rate, and on the presence of bromide ions (Br(-)) to selectively adsorb on certain facets of the PdCu nucleus. The as-prepared 3D PdCu nanostructures exhibit a greatly enhanced catalytic activity toward formic acid oxidation, owing to a suitable electronic landscape resulting from the alloy structure and the unique morphology.