One-pot synthesis and its surprisingly electrocatalytic property of mesoporous Pt/AgCl nanocubes with honeycomb shape

A one-pot strategy to the synthesis of mesoporous and honeycomb-shaped (MHS) platinum/silver chloride (Pt/AgCl) nanocubes is demonstrated via galvanic replacement reaction of Ag nanocubes. Without using any supporting materials, the MHS Pt/AgCl nanocubes were directly used as catalyst toward methanol oxidation. TEM, HRTEM, EDS, XRD, XPS and UV–vis measurements revealed that the MHS Pt/AgCl nanocubes had successfully synthesized. Electrochemical measurements indicated that the Pt/AgCl nanocubes showed outstanding electrocatalytic activity such as low onset potential (approximately −0.64 V) and high peak current density (about 38.0 mA/cm2), which was 10-fold much stronger than that of common Pt nanoparticles. The one-pot strategy presented here may have greatly potential impact on the design and preparation of Pt nanocatalysts.

► Mesoporous honeycomb-shaped Pt/AgCl nanocubes were for the first time synthesized.
► The Pt/AgCl nanocubes had good monodispersity and were directly used as catalyst.
► The Pt/AgCl nanocubes with large ECSA had outstanding electrocatalytic activity.
► This may open up a new strategy for the preparation of Pt-based nanocatalysts.