A simple one-pot strategy to platinum–palladium@palladium core–shell nanostructures with high electrocatalytic activity

Well-defined platinum–palladium@palladium core–shell nanospheres (PtPd@Pd NSs) are synthesized by a facile one-pot solution approach using N -methylimidazole and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as directing and capping agents, respectively, without using any seed, template, or organic solvent . The coexistence of the precursors, N -methylimidazole, PVP, and reaction temperature has great effects on the final morphology. Thus-prepared nanocomposites display an improved electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media, methanol and ethylene glycol oxidation reaction in alkaline media , compared with Pt nanoparticles , Pd nanoparticles, commercial Pt black and Pd black catalysts. This method may direct a general orientation for shape control synthesis of functional bimetallic nanocrystals as promising electrocatalysts in direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs).