One-step synthesis of porous bimetallic PtCu nanocrystals with high electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation reactionElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr04557f

The design of porous bimetallic nanocrystals (NCs) is very important for electrochemical energy conversion. Herein, we report an aqueous solution method for one-step fabrication of porous PtCu NCs assembled by spatially interconnected arms in high yield by a simple ultrasonic treatment of the reaction mixture at room temperature. The proposed method, without the need for multi-step synthesis, high temperatures, and organic solvents, shows an obvious advantage of simplicity for the feasible synthesis of bimetallic PtCu NCs with a porous structure. The as-made porous PtCu NCs are highly active and durable catalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction due to their porous structure and bimetallic composition. Porous bimetallic PtCu nanocrystals, which are highly active catalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction, are prepared by a one-step method.