title: Synthesis of tetrahexahedral platinum nanocrystals with high-index facets and high electro-oxidation activity.
abstract: The shapes of noble metal nanocrystals (NCs) are usually defined by polyhedra that are enclosed by {111} and {100} facets, such as cubes, tetrahedra, and octahedra. Platinum NCs of unusual tetrahexahedral (THH) shape were prepared at high yield by an electrochemical treatment of Pt nanospheres supported on glassy carbon by a square-wave potential. The single-crystal THH NC is enclosed by 24 high-index facets such as {730}, {210}, and/or {520} surfaces that have a large density of atomic steps and dangling bonds. These high-energy surfaces are stable thermally (to 800 degrees C) and chemically and exhibit much enhanced (up to 400%) catalytic activity for equivalent Pt surface areas for electro-oxidation of small organic fuels such as formic acid and ethanol.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Zhi-You
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shi-Gang
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Zhong Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang