Synthesis and characterization of nano metals with core-shell structure

Abstract

Using Au core-Pt shell as an example, the synthesis and characterization of nano metals with core-shell structure is demonstrated in a systematic study on the amount-dependent morphology change in a series of Au-Pt bimetallic nanoparticles synthesized using chemical reduction. While the amount of Au precursor is kept constant throughout the whole series of compounds to obtain a fixed Au core size (∼7.5 nm), the Au/Pt ratio is varied from 1/1 to 1/4 in order to synthesize Pt shell layers of different thickness. We observed a remarkable shift of surface plasmon band to around 410 nm. With the aid of high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS), the composition of the shell layer is found to be a Pt-enriched Au-Pt alloy. As the amount of Pt increases, string-like Pt clusters form on the surface of the nanoparticles. The average diameter of these Pt clusters is about 2 nm. This special structure may possess unique catalytic properties.