A Selective Blocking Method To Control the Overgrowth of Pt on Au

ABSTRACT: A method for the preparation of smooth deposits of Pt on Au nanorods is described, involving sequential deposition steps with selective blocking of surface sites that reduces Pt-on-Pt deposition. The Au−Pt nanorods prepared by this method have higher long-term stability than those prepared by standard Pt deposition. Electrochemical data show that the resulting structure has more extended regions of Pt surface and enhanced activity toward the carbon monoxide oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions. There has been extensive study of metallic nanoparticles as a result of the interesting properties that can arise at short length scales.1,2 Advances in synthesis have allowed the preparation of gold nanoparticles with good control over size and shape