Mimetic underpotential deposition technique extended for surface nanoengineering of electrocatalysts

► New extensions of mimetic underpotential deposition. ► Skin modification of Pb on Pt, Pt on Au and Pd-Pt on Pd surfaces. ► Enhanced electrocatalytic activity for formic acid oxidation. ► Promising for scale-up modification on nanocatalysts with foreign adatoms.