Facile Sythesis of Novel Pt-Ni-Cu Nanoframes via Simple Galvanic Replacement for Methanol Oxidation Reaction

Pt-based catalysts play a crucial role in various applications, such as catalytic converters, petroleum refinement, and chemical production. However, the widespread use of Pt-based catalysts is hindered by their high cost. To address this issue, researchers have focused on combining Pt with non-precious metals to reduce Pt usage with intent to optimize electronic configurations for improved catalytic performance. Recently, there has been significant interest in nanoframes due to their unique open structure, which provides a large surface area and enhances catalytic performance compared to conventional solid nanoparticles. In this report, we present a facile preparation of novel Pt-Ni-Cu nanoframes from Pt-Ni nanocubes through a simple galvanic replacement process at high temperature. The resulting nanoframes retain the segregated Pt at the edges and diagonals of the Pt-Ni precursor while incorporating Cu into the alloy. The segregated Ni, except at the edges and diagonals, is selectively removed, resulting in a hollow structure through the Kirkendall Effect. The amount of Cu in the nanoframes can be controlled by adjusting the reaction time. The nanoframes were applied for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), and the mass activity is proportional to the amount of Cu incorporated, which was adjusted by controlling the time on the synthesis of the nanoframes. These results not only highlight the exceptional potential of the Pt-Ni-Cu nanoframes as catalysts for MOR but also provide a promising solution to the cost-effectiveness challenge associated with Pt-based catalyst applications.