Precise positioning of Au islands within mesoporous Pd–Pt nanoparticles for plasmon-enhanced methanol oxidation

Trimetallic systems have garnered considerable attention in (electro)catalysis due to the synergistic effects resulting from the combination of three different metals. However, achieving precise control over the positioning of various metals and understanding the relationship between structure and performance remains challenging. This study introduces an approach for synthesizing Pd@Pt@Au mesoporous nanoparticles (MNPs) with distinct core-shell Pd@Pt structures, featuring well-dispersed isolated Au islands on the outer shell, improving the plasmonic effect. The electrocatalytic performance of Pd@Pt@Au MNPs in the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is assessed under light-induced and light-independent conditions. The results indicate significantly enhanced activity compared to commercial Pt black, with catalytic activity during MOR increasing approximately 7.5-fold under light irradiation. The external placement of Au on the shell of Pd@Pt@Au MNPs provides superior plasmonic enhancement, thereby contributing to improved catalytic performance under light irradiation. This investigation sheds light on the controlled synthesis of trimetallic MNPs and their catalytic applications, underscoring the importance of precise Au positioning for optimizing performance.