摘要
We report a facile strategy to synthesize intermetallic nanoparticle （iNP） electrocatalysts via one-pot pyrolysis of a zeolitic imidazolate framework, ZIF-8, encapsulating precious metal nanoparticles （NPs）. ZIF-8 serves not only as precursor for N-doped carbon （NC）, but also as Zn source for the formation of intermetallic or alloy NPs with the encapsulated metals. The resulting sub-4 nm PtZn iNPs embedded in NC exhibit high sintering resistance up to 1,000℃. Importantly, the present methodology allows fine-tuning of both composition （e.g., PdZn and RhZn iNPs, as well as AuZn and RuZn alloy NPs） and size （2.4, 3.7, and 5.4 nm PtZn） of the as-formed bimetallic NPs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a metal-organic framework （MOF） with multiple functionalities, such as secondary metal source, carbon precursor, and size-regulating reagent, which promote the formation of iNPs. This work opens a new avenue for the synthesis of highly uniform and stable iNPs.
We report a facile strategy to synthesize intermetallic nanoparticle （iNP） electrocatalysts via one-pot pyrolysis of a zeolitic imidazolate framework, ZIF-8, encapsulating precious metal nanoparticles （NPs）. ZIF-8 serves not only as precursor for N-doped carbon （NC）, but also as Zn source for the formation of intermetallic or alloy NPs with the encapsulated metals. The resulting sub-4 nm PtZn iNPs embedded in NC exhibit high sintering resistance up to 1,000℃. Importantly, the present methodology allows fine-tuning of both composition （e.g., PdZn and RhZn iNPs, as well as AuZn and RuZn alloy NPs） and size （2.4, 3.7, and 5.4 nm PtZn） of the as-formed bimetallic NPs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a metal-organic framework （MOF） with multiple functionalities, such as secondary metal source, carbon precursor, and size-regulating reagent, which promote the formation of iNPs. This work opens a new avenue for the synthesis of highly uniform and stable iNPs.
