Hydrogen-Intercalation-Induced Lattice Expansion of Pd@Pt Core–Shell Nanoparticles for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Alcohol Oxidation

Lattice engineering on specific facets of metal catalysts is critically important not only for the enhancement of their catalytic performance but also for deeply understanding the effect of facet-based lattice engineering on catalytic reactions. Here, we develop a facile two-step method for the lattice expansion on specific facets, i.e., Pt(100) and Pt(111), of Pt catalysts. We first prepare the Pd@Pt core–shell nanoparticles exposed with the Pt(100) and Pt(111) facets, respectively, via the Pd-seeded epitaxial growth, and then convert the Pd core to PdH0.43 by hydrogen intercalation. The lattice expansion of the Pd core induces the lattice enlargement of the Pt shell, which can significantly promote the alcohol oxidation reaction (AOR) on both Pt(100) and Pt(111) facets. Impressively, Pt mass specific activities of 32.51 A mgPt–1 for methanol oxidation and 14.86 A mgPt–1 for ethanol oxidation, which are 41.15 and 25.19 times those of the commercial Pt/C catalyst, respectively, have been achieved on the Pt(111) facet. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the remarkably improved catalytic performance on both the Pt(100) and the Pt(111) facets through lattice expansion arises from the enhanced OH adsorption. This work not only paves the way for lattice engineering on specific facets of nanomaterials to enhance their electrocatalytic activity but also offers a promising strategy toward the rational design and preparation of highly efficient catalysts.