Tailored microcrystal growth: a facile solution-phase synthesis of gold rings

High catalytic performance of raspberry-like gold nanoparticles and enhancement of stability by silica coating

Raspberry-like gold nanoparticles (Au RLNPs) show high catalytic activities in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and ethanol electrooxidation. To improve the stability and applicability of Au RLNPs, silica-coated Au RLNPs were successfully synthesized.

Facile synthesis of hierarchical dendritic PtPd nanogarlands supported on reduced graphene oxide with enhanced electrocatalytic properties

A simple and facile method is developed for one-pot preparation of hierarchical dendritic PtPd nanogarlands supported on reduced graphene oxide (PtPd/RGO) at room temperature, without using any seed, organic solvent, or complex apparatus. It is found that octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (NP-40) as a soft template and its amount are critical to the formation of PtPd garlands. The as-prepared nanocomposites are further applied to methanol and ethanol oxidation with significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity and better stability in alkaline media.

Surfactant-free sub-2 nm ultrathin triangular gold nanoframes

Ultrathin triangular gold nanoframes are synthesized in high yield through selective gold deposition on the edges of triangular silver nanoprisms and subsequent silver etching with mild wet etchants. These ultrathin gold nanoframes are surfactant-free with tailorable ridge thickness from 1.8 to 6 nm and exhibit adjustable and distinct surface plasmon resonance bands in the visible and near-IR region. In comparison, etching of the nanoprism template by galvanic replacement can only create frame structures with much thicker ridges, which have much lower catalytic activity for 4-nitrophenol reduction than the ultrathin gold nanoframes.