Ambient microdroplet synthesis of Pt and Pt–Cu nanorods from homogeneous solutions for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction

Abstract

In this article, we report a rapid, ambient microdroplet-driven synthesis that directly converts homogeneous solutions of metal precursors into bimetallic nanorods within minutes. Using platinum(II) acetylacetonate as a model precursor, we demonstrate the one-step, reductant-free formation of platinum nanorods. Furthermore, this strategy is extended to mixed solutions of platinum(II) acetylacetonate and copper(II) acetate, enabling the first-time synthesis of platinum–copper bimetallic nanorods via ambient microdroplets from simple salt precursors. This facile synthesis proceeds without additional chemical reducing agents and affords nearly quantitative conversion, highlighting the sustainability and efficiency of ambient microdroplet chemistry for creating anisotropic, high-surface-area nanostructures. The resulting platinum and platinum–copper nanorods feature unique bimetallic junctions and enhanced surface area-to-volume characteristics. When evaluated for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction, these nanorods exhibit efficient ammonia production, underscoring the potential of this rapid and sustainable synthetic approach for environmentally relevant catalytic applications. While these results establish a promising platform for environmentally relevant catalysis, further optimization of catalyst composition is required to realize practical applications.