Mechanism study of Single-Step synthesis of Fe(core)@Pt(shell) nanoparticles by sonochemistry

Transition metal (TM) core-platinum (Pt) shell nanoparticles (TM@Pt NPs) are attracting a great deal of attention as highly active and durable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts of fuel cells and metal-air batteries. However, most of the reported synthesis methods of TM@Pt NPs are multistep in nature, a significant disadvantage for real applications. In this regard, our group has reported a single-step method to synthesize TM@Pt NPs for TM = Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni by using sonochemistry, namely the UPS (ultrasound-assisted polyol synthesis) method. Previously, we proposed the mechanism of the formation of these TM@Pt NPs by UPS method, but rather in a rough sense. Some details are missing and the optimal conditions have not been established. In the present work, we performed detailed studies on the formation mechanism of UPS reaction by using Fe@Pt NPs as the model system. Effects of synthesis parameters such as the nature of metal precursor, conditions of ultrasound, and temperature profile as a function of reaction time were assessed, along with the analyses of intermediates during the UPS reaction. As results, we verified our previously proposed mechanism that, under appropriate conditions, Fe core is formed through the cavitation and implosion of the solvent, induced by the ultrasound, and the Pt shell is formed by the chemical reaction between Fe core and Pt reagent, independent from the direct effect of ultrasound. In addition, we established the optimal conditions to obtain a high purity Fe@Pt NPs in a high yield (>90% based on Pt), which may enable the increase of synthesis scale of Fe@Pt NPs, a necessary step for the real application of TM@Pt NPs.