A Solution Phase Synthesis of Dendritic Platinum Nanoelectrocatalysts with the Assistance of Polyoxyethylene Nonylphenyl Ether

Dendritic platinum nanoparticles (DPNs) with high surface area have attractive electrocatalytic properties. We report an aqueous solution phase synthesis of DPNs in the presence of various amphiphilic molecules (including surfactants) bypassing the use of organic solvents, seeds, templates or other additives and benefiting from low temperatures and short reaction time (Wang in J Am Chem Soc 132: 13636, 2010; Wang in J Am Chem Soc 133: 9674, 2011; Wang in J Am Chem Soc 135: 16762, 2013). Here we extend this concept to develop an economical and effective solution phase synthesis of DPNs by a simple one-step method with the assistance of polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether. The developed strategy remarkably simplifies the synthetic procedures compared to the reported ones. The obtained DPNs exhibit enhanced catalytic activity during methanol oxidation reaction in comparison with the commercially available platinum black. Graphical Abstract: Here we report an aqueous solution phase synthesis for dendritic platinum nanoparticles (DPNs) with a high surface area in the presence of polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether[Figure not available: see fulltext.].