Systems and methods for scale-up synthesis multi-layered Pt-skin nanoparticle catalysts

1. A method of synthesizing Pt nanoparticle catalyst in a quantity of at least 5 grams/batch comprising the steps of:

synthesizing PtNi nanoparticles by:

mixing together a nickel precursor, a reducing agent, a surfactant, a platinum precursor, and a polar solvent consisting essentially of 1,2-dichlorobenzene and diphenyl ether in one pot at a temperature of at least 200° C. for at least 30 minutes, thereby forming a PtNi nanoparticle solution;

isolating PtNi/substrate nanoparticles by:

sonicating the PtNi nanoparticle solution with substrate in chloroform solution, the chloroform solution causing PtNi nanoparticles to be uniformly loaded on the substrate,

subsequent to the sonicating, adding hexane to the sonicated chloroform solution, the hexane causing precipitation of the PtNi/substrate nanoparticles within a time period of 5 minutes to 30 minutes, and

collecting the PtNi/substrate nanoparticles by filtration;

acid leaching the PtNi/substrate by:

sonicating the collected PtNi/substrate nanoparticles in water,

mixing an acid with the sonicated PtNi/substrate sonicated in water for 60 minutes, and

collecting the leached PtNi/substrate nanoparticles by filtration; and

annealing the leached PtNi/substrate nanoparticles, forming a Pt-skin on the PtNi/substrate nanoparticles.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nickel precursor is Nickel Acetate tetrahydrate.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the reducing agent is 1,2-tetradecanediol.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the surfactant comprises oleic acid and oleylamine.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the platinum precursor comprises Pt (II) acetylacetonate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is carbon.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid is HClO 4 .

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid is 0.1 M HClO 4 .

9. A method of manufacturing Pt skin nanoparticles in a quantity of at least 5 grams/batch comprising:

isolating PtNi/carbon nanoparticles by:

sonicating a PtNi nanoparticle solution with carbon dispersed in a chloroform solution, the chloroform solution causing PtNi nanoparticles to be uniformly loaded on the carbon,

subsequent to the sonicating, adding hexane to the sonicated chloroform solution, the hexane causing precipitation of PtNi/carbon nanoparticles within a time period of 5 minutes to 30 minutes, and

collecting the PtNi/carbon nanoparticles by filtration;

acid leaching the PtNi/carbon by:

sonicating the collected PtNi/carbon nanoparticles in water,

mixing an acid with the sonicated PtNi/carbon sonicated in water for 60 minutes, and

collecting the leached PtNi/carbon nanoparticles by filtration; and

annealing the leached PtNi/carbon nanoparticles, forming a Pt-skin on the PtNi/substrate nanoparticles.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the acid is HClO 4 .

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the acid is 0.1 M HClO 4 .

12. A method of synthesizing Pt nanoparticle catalyst in a quantity of at least 5 grams/batch comprising the steps of:

synthesizing PtNi nanoparticles by:

mixing together a nickel precursor, a reducing agent, a surfactant, a platinum precursor, and a polar solvent consisting essentially of 1,2-dichlorobenzene and diphenyl ether in one pot at a temperature of at least 200° C. for at least 30 minutes, thereby forming a PtNi nanoparticle solution;

isolating PtNi/substrate nanoparticles by:

sonicating the PtNi nanoparticle solution with substrate in chloroform solution, the chloroform solution causing PtNi nanoparticles to be uniformly loaded on the substrate,

subsequent to the sonicating, adding hexane to the sonicated chloroform solution, the hexane causing precipitation of PtNi/substrate nanoparticles within a time period of 5 minutes to 30 minutes, and

collecting the PtNi/substrate nanoparticles by filtration; and

acid leaching the PtNi/substrate.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the acid leaching comprises:

sonicating the collected PtNi/substrate nanoparticles in water;

mixing an acid with the sonicated PtNi/substrate sonicated in water for 60 minutes; and

collecting the leached PtNi/substrate nanoparticles by filtration.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, after acid leaching, annealing the leached PtNi/substrate nanoparticles, forming a Pt-skin on the PtNi/substrate nanoparticles.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the surfactant comprises oleic acid and oleylamine.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the platinum precursor comprises Pt (II) acetylacetonate.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the acid is HClO 4 .

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the acid is 0.1 M HClO 4 .