Facile synthesis of porous dendritic bimetallic platinum-nickel nanocrystals as efficient catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

Certain bimetallic nanocrystals (NCs) possess promising catalytic properties for electrochemical energy conversion. Herein, we report a facile method for the one-step synthesis of porous dendritic PtNi NCs in aqueous solution at room temperature that contrasts with the traditional multistep thermal decomposition approach. The dendritic PtNi NCs assembled by interconnected arms are efficient catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. This direct and efficient method is favorable for the up-scaled synthesis of active catalysts used in electrochemical applications. They make good alloys: Bimetallic porous PtNi dendrites are synthesized in aqueous solution at room temperature by a facile one-step method. The obtained dendrites are used as a highly active and durable catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction.