Facile synthesis of ultrathin bimetallic PtSn wavy nanowires by nanoparticle attachment as enhanced hydrogenation catalysts.

Ultrathin wavy nanowires represent an emerging class of nanostructures that exhibit unique catalytic, magnetic, and electronic properties, but the controlled production of bimetallic wavy nanowires remains a significant challenge. Ultrathin bimetallic PtSn nanowires have been prepared with high yield and featuring a highly wavy structure. Owing to the ultrathin nature and unique electronic properties of these PtSn wavy nanowires, they exhibit improved catalytic performance for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene, as well as for the hydrogenation of styrene. These results suggest a new strategy to prepare highly active catalysts through defect engineering and can significantly impact broad practical applications.