Shape-controlled synthesis of Pt–Pd core–shell nanoparticles exhibiting polyhedral morphologies by modified polyol method

Abstract Pt–Pd core–shell nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple synthetic method. First, Pt nanoparticles were synthesized in a controlled manner via the reduction of chloroplantinic acid hexahydrate in ethylene glycol (EG) at 160 °C in the presence of silver nitrate and the stabilization of polyvinylpyrrolidon. AgNO3 used acts as a structure-modifying agent to the morphology of the Pt nanoparticles. These Pt nanoparticles function as the seeds for the successive reduction of sodium tetrachloropalladate (II) hydrate in EG under stirring for 15 min at 160 °C in order to synthesize Pt–Pd core–shell nanoparticles. To characterize the as-prepared Pt–Pd nanoparticles, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM are used. The high-resolution elemental mappings were carried out using the combination of scanning TEM and X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The results also demonstrate the homogeneous nucleation and growth of the Pd metal shell on the definite Pt core. The synthesized Pt–Pd core–shell nanoparticles exhibit a sharp and polyhedral morphology. The epitaxial growth of the controlled Pd shells on the Pt cores via a polyol method was observed. It is suggested that Frank–van der Merwe and Stranski–Krastanov growth modes coexisted in the nucleation and growth of Pt–Pd core–shell nanoparticles.