Innovative approach to controlled Pt-Rh bimetallic nanoparticle synthesis

Precise control of the elemental composition and distribution in bimetallic nanoparticles is of great interest for both fundamental studies and applications, e.g. in catalysis. We present a new innovative and facile synthesis strategy for the production of true solid solution Pt1-xRhx nanoparticles. This constitutes a development of the established heat-up method, where undesired shell formation is fully suppressed, despite utilizing metal precursors with different reaction rates. The concept is demonstrated through synthesis of selected Pt1-xRhx solid solution compositions via the polyalcohol reduction approach. In addition, we provide modified procedures, using the same surface stabilizing agent/metal precursors reaction matrix yielding controlled model Rh(core)-Pt(shell) and Pt(core)-Rh(shell) nanoparticles. Tunable bimetallic solid solution and core-shell nanoparticles with the same capping agent are of key importance in systematic fundamental studies, as functional materials properties may be altered by modifying the surface termination.