One-Pot Fabrication of Site-Selective Hexapod PtPdCu Concave Rhombic Dodecahedrons as Highly Efficient Catalysts for Electrocatalysis

Abstract

Tailoring the composition and morphology of Pt-based catalysts is an effective approach for achieving both reduction in Pt usage and improvement in electrocatalytic performance. Herein, we develop a facile one-pot method for the direct preparation of PtPdCu hexapod concave rhombic dodecahedrons (HCRDs). The well-defined PtPdCu HCRDs possess excavated structure and six site-selective arms, which are preferentially located at six {100} vertexes of a central excavated rhombic dodecahedron and covered with high-index facets. Regulating the addition of Br ions could alter the morphology of nanocrystals easily due to different etching degrees and selective overgrowth. Introducing specific amounts of Pd contributes to the excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability of PtPdCu HCRDs catalyst for both oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation reaction compared to commercial Pt/C. This work provides a simple strategy for rationally designing trimetallic electrocatalysts with controlled morphology and enhanced catalytic performance.