High-Index Facets Bounded Platinum–Lead Concave Nanocubes with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Properties

High-index facets bounded platinum-based alloy nanocrystals usually exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activity. However, the high surface energy, thermodynamic instability, and lattice mismatch make it a significant challenge to synthesize well-defined bimetallic nanocrystals with high-index facets. Here we developed a one-step wet-chemical synthesis of uniform PtPb concave nanocubes (CNCs) enclosed by {520} high-index facets. The as-prepared PtPb CNCs exhibited high synthetic yield and highly concave structure with an average size of 14 nm. Moreover, the synergistic effects and exposed {520} facets endowed the PtPb CNCs with excellent stability and electrocatalytic mass activity toward the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), which was 2.16- and 4.62-times higher than PtPb nanocubes (NCs) and commercial Pt/C catalysts, respectively. This work provides a new way for rational design and practical application of efficient catalysts.