Activating Ag by even more inert Au: a peculiar effect on electrocatalysis toward oxygen reduction in alkaline media.

Combined computational and experimental studies reveal a noble, non-d-band effect on Ag activation and electrocatalysis: upon coating Ag onto the even more inert Au surface, the catalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media can be improved by about half an order of magnitude in comparison to the usual Ag surface.