In this work, a simple and rapid one-pot wet-chemical approach was developed for large-scale synthesis of bimetallic AuPt alloyed nanochains with hierarchical structures. Metformin was employed as a structure-director in the synthetic process. There was no any premade seed, organic solvent, polymer or special apparatus involved. The characterization techniques included X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The as-fabricated nanocrystals had enlarged electrochemical active surface area (ECSA, 43.87 m(2) g(Pt)(-1)), and exhibited improved electrocatalytic activity and durability for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) using Pt nanochains and commercial Pt black as contrasts. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.