Hybrid Pt/Au nanowires: Synthesis and electronic structure

This letter reports the synthesis of a new type of noble metal/noble metal hybrid (Pt/Au hybrid nanowires) via galvanic replacement reaction between Pt nanowires and AuCl₃. The width of nanowire component is about 2.3 ± 0.2 nm wide, and the diameter of Au component is about 4.5 nm ± 0.8 nm. More interestingly, by using X-ray absorption spectroscopy technique, charge transfer upon hybrids formation was observed, that d-charge depletion occurred at the Pt site, accompanied by d-charge gain at the Au site. The reported methodology to synthesize Pt/Au hybrid nanowires and study of electronic structure of Pt/Au hybrids will be of great importance in catalysis and materials science.