Star-shaped bimetallic nanobundles are better catalysts for fuel cells than conventional platinum nanoparticles, say US and Chinese scientists. The team made the branched platinum–nickel nanostructures by diffusing Ni species into the crystal lattice of Pt seeds; a method they claim opens a new avenue for the morphology control of bimetallic alloys. The steps and kinks on the nanostructures’ surfaces make them better at oxidising methanol.
Link to journal article
Highly Branched Pt-Ni Nanocrystals Enclosed by Stepped Surface
Z Niu et al
Chem. Sci., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/c2sc00004k
