Unveiling the Adsorption Behavior and Redox Properties of PtNi Nanowire for Biomass-Derived Molecules Electrooxidation.

Ni-based materials are auspicious electrocatalysts for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation reaction (HMFOR), including the adsorption and conversion of HMF and OH ad on the electrocatalyst surface. However, the intrinsic HMFOR activity of Ni-based catalysts is far from satisfactory due to the weak adsorption of HMF and OH ad species. Herein, a set of Pt x Ni 100- x bundle nanowires (NWs) were prepared for HMFOR, which enables a low onset-potential and large current density. Operando methods reveal that Pt modulates the redox property of Ni in PtNi NWs and accelerates the oxidation of Ni 2+ -OH to Ni 3+ -O species during HMFOR. Moreover, the adsorption studies demonstrate the synergetic roles of Pt and Ni in enhancing the HMFOR activity by forming Pt-O-Ni bonds. In detail, Ni atoms modulate the d band of Pt to alter the adsorption behavior of HMF. Pt atoms promote the adsorption of OH ad on Ni sites. This work provides design principles for HMFOR electrocatalysts by modulating the adsorption behaviors of organic molecules and OH ad .