Enhancing the electrocatalytic property of hollow structured platinum nanoparticles for methanol oxidation through a hybrid construction.

The integration of different components into a hybrid nanosystem for the utilization of the synergistic effects is an effective way to design the electrocatalysts. Herein, we demonstrate a hybrid strategy to enhance the electrocatalytic property of hollow structured Pt nanoparticles for methanol oxidation reaction. This strategy begins with the preparation of bimetallic Ag-Pt nanoparticles with a core-shell construction. Element sulfur is then added to transform the core-shell Ag-Pt nanostructures into hybrid nanodimers consisting of Ag2S nanocrystals and remaining Pt domains with intact hollow interiors (Ag2S-hPt). Finally, Au is deposited at the surface of the Ag2S domain in each hetero-dimer, resulting in the formation of ternary Ag2S-Au-hPt nanocomposites with solid-state interfaces. The ternary nanocomposites exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic property toward methanol oxidation due to the strong electronic coupling between Pt and other domains in the hybrid particles. The concept might be used toward the design and synthesis of other hetero-nanostructures with technological importance.