Galvanic replacement mediated synthesis of rGO–Mn3O4–Pt nanocomposites for the oxygen reduction reaction

Here we demonstrate the synthesis of hybrid rGO–Mn₃O₄–Pt nanocomposites as efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solutions.

Evolution from small sized Au nanoparticles to hollow Pt/Au nanostructures with Pt nanorods and a mechanistic study

A facile method for synthesizing hollow Au/Pt nanostructures is reported; this strategy involves using small sized Au nanoparticles (NPs) as seeds and KI as growth modifier.

Shaped platinum nanoparticles directly synthesized inside mesoporous silica supports

It is difficult to deposit shape-controlled nanoparticles into a mesoporous framework while preserving the shape. For shaped platinum nanoparticles, which are typically 5-10 nm in size, capillary inclusion by sonication or the formation of a mesoporous framework around the shaped platinum nanoparticles has been attempted, but the nanoparticles aggregated or their shapes were degraded easily. In this work, we directly nucleated platinum on the surface inside a mesoporous silica support and controlled the overgrowth step, producing cubic shaped nanoparticles. Mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane was used as an anchoring agent causing nucleation at the silica surface, and it also helped to shape the nanoparticles. Platinum nanocubes, which were synthesized with polymeric capping agents separately, were deposited inside the mesoporous silica by sonication, but most of the nanoparticles were clogged at the entrance to the pores, and the surface of the platinum had very few sites that were catalytically active, as evidenced by the small H2 uptake. Unshaped platinum nanoparticles, which were prepared by conventional wet impregnation, showed a similar amount of H2 uptake as the in situ shaped platinum cubes, but the selectivity for pyrrole hydrogenation was poorer towards the production of pyrrolidine. The mesoporosity and the residual thiol groups on the surface of the in situ shaped Pt nanocubes might cause a high selectivity for pyrrolidine.

Synthesis of colloidal metal and metal alloy nanoparticles for electrochemical energy applications

This Review is focused on the recent progresses in the synthetic approaches to the precise control of structure, size, shape, composition and multi-functionality of metal and metal alloy nanoparticles. Many of these strategies have been developed based on colloidal methods, and to limited extent, the galvanic and other methods. The shape, size and composition often govern the chemical and catalytic properties that are important for electrochemical energy applications. The structure-property relationship and the design in controllable structures and morphologies for specific reactions such as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are emphasized.