Noble metal nanoframes with highly open architectures have attracted increasing research interest recently owing to their inherent physical and chemical properties originating from their large surface area-to-volume ratio, three-dimensional accessible surface and reduced consumption of noble metals. Here, we report a simple one-pot hydrothermal method to synthesize highly anisotropic PtCu nanoframes (NFs) with nanothorns selectively protruding from the edge or vertex. The time-dependent experiment showed that the pure Cu nanodecahedra were first formed. Then the galvanic replacement reaction between Cu nanodecahedra and Pt precursors in the solution, and the subsequent site-specific co-deposition of Pt and Cu atoms are responsible for the formation of highly anisotropic PtCu NFs. Because of their highly anisotropic nature, structural defects, and the synergistic effect between different components, the PtCu NFs exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) under alkaline conditions, as compared to the commercial Pt/C catalyst and previously reported PtCu nanostructures. We believe our synthetic strategy will open up exciting opportunities for the rational design and synthesis of highly anisotropic noble metal alloy nanoframes, which could have various promising applications.

Highly anisotropic PtCu alloy nanoframes used as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation

256th National Meeting (2018)

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