Enhanced electrocatalytic activity on gold nanocrystals enclosed by high-index facets for oxygen reduction

Au nanocrystals enclosed by high-index facets (e.g. {310}) are more energetically and kinetically favorable than {111} facets for oxygen reduction in both lithium-air battery and fuel cell conditions. In both systems, the electric potential for oxygen reduction was reduced by 60-160 mV and the current increases by more than five times if high-index Au nanocrystals were utilized.