Gold-nickel (Au-Ni) bimetallic nanoparticles in various forms of clustered globular, polyhedral, platelet and prickly nanoparticles were synthesized. The effect of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and the halide anions on the shape of the Au-Ni nanoparticles were systematically investigated. By testing the electrocatalytic performances of differently shaped Au Ni nanoparticles under methanol and ethanol oxidation conditions, the optimum shape for catalysis was suggested. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.