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[Display omitted] • The non-homogenous AuPd alloy was synthesized by the LSPR effect of Au NPs within 250 s, and it exhibits excellent EOR activity in alkaline media. • The effective Pd precursor reduction is confined within a 2.5 nm shell region due to the large temperature gradient and ultra-short pulse duration. • The formation mechanism of AuPd alloy is investigated by experiment, FEM and MD simulations. Improving electrocatalyst performance is key to the large-scale application of fuel cells. Here, we constructed non-homogeneous AuPd alloy nanoparticles with excellent electrocatalytic activity based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of Au nanoparticles for the first time. The mass activity and specific activity of the non-homogeneous AuPd alloy for ethanol oxidation reaction can reach 18.14 A/mg Pd and 20.28 mA cm−2, respectively, 10.67 and 3.75 times higher than that of commercial Pd/C. Experimental characterizations and theoretical simulations show that Pd precursor is reduced and deposited on the surface of Au NPs, and the localized temperature field drives the atomic interdiffusion. Finite element simulation results indicate a large temperature gradient around the laser-irradiated Au NPs, and the effective reduction of the Pd precursor is confined to the 2.5 nm thick shell region. This work demonstrates the heterogeneous nucleation and growth of nanocrystals driven by LSPR, providing a promising strategy for the rational design of bimetal nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Pt/Bi 2 O 3 interfaces undergo structural reconstruction during CV process and form highly dispersed Bi0 species on the surface of Pt aerogel. • Higher MOR activity in alkaline media was obtained for Bi0 decorated Pt aerogel. • The reaction kinetics is investigated by In-suit FTIR measurement and DFT calculations. Improving the activity and stability of electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is key important for the large-scale application of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Herein, we provide a novel scheme to firstly build Bi-decorated Pt aerogel through the structural reconstruction of Pt/Bi 2 O 3 interface, which demonstrates an excellent mass activity of 7.99 A mg-1 Pt in MOR (8-fold higher than that of commercial Pt/C). Experimental results show that the synergistic effect between Bi0 species and Pt aerogel is the major cause of the improvement of the catalytic activity. In-suit Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy results indicated that the generation and transformation of HCOO– intermediate are accelerated. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the decorated Bi enhances the adsorption of OH species on the adjacent Pt site, which can facilitate the dehydrogenation of methanol and the removal of poisonous CO species. Thus, the electro-catalytic performance can be improved. This strategy can be extended to construct other types of interfaces, which may open new routes for the synthesis of highly efficient electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]