Colloidal surfactant-free syntheses of precious metal nanoparticles for electrocatalysis

Abstract

The successful study, understanding, optimization, and ultimately scaling up of electroactive and stable electrodes strongly rely on the careful design and preparation of electrocatalytic materials. In particular, precious metal nanoparticles are key electrocatalysts for a wide range of reactions. Colloidal syntheses offer several advantages to develop precious metal nanoparticles but unfortunately often require capping agents to stabilize the nanoparticles. These ligands or surfactants often block the surface active sites and need to be removed by time and/or energy demanding steps. These extra steps potentially (unnecessarily) complicate studies, might impair reproducibility and limit a direct transfer of fundamental breakthroughs to real-life applications. Fortunately, a range of surfactant-free syntheses have been reported and are well-suited to develop electrocatalysts with improved activity. Surfactant-free syntheses also bear promising features towards high-throughput screening of multi-metallic nanomaterials to explore new concepts in electrode design. • Precious metal nanoparticles are important electrocatalysts for multiple reactions. • Colloidal syntheses are an ideal platform to develop electro-active nanoparticles. • Surfactant-free colloidal syntheses present benefits towards improved nanocatalysts. • Laser ablation, DMF, polyols, and mono-alcohols syntheses are detailed. • Areas of research that could benefit from surfactant-free syntheses are stressed.