Synergizing Ag alloying and urchin-like structure to steer formic acid oxidation toward the direct pathway on Pt nanocrystals in acidic medium

Raman spectroscopy confirms that both direct and indirect pathways coexist, with Ag alloying steering the reaction toward a more direct pathway-dominant process. Density functional theory reveals that Ag alloying downshifts the d-band center, weakening CO adsorption and facilitating the COOH*-mediated pathway. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic interplay of Ag electronic modification and the urchin-like geometric effects. This work highlights how synergizing Ag alloying and morphological engineering can steer formic acid oxidation toward the direct pathway, offering a rational design strategy for advanced Pt-based electrocatalysts.