Ping's work on the Pt mesocrystals have been accepted for publication by Chemistry–A European Journal. This paper has been selected as a "Hot Paper" and an inside-cover paper. Congratulations!

Title: Controlled Synthesis of Octahedral Platinum-Based Mesocrystals by Oriented Aggregation

Authors: Ping Zhong, Hongpo Liu, Jie Zhang, Yadong Yin, and Chuanbo Gao*

Link to the publisher: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.201606023/full

Cover page: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.201701040/full

Abstract: Designed synthesis of noble metal mesocrystals is of great significance to a variety of applications. In this work, we report the synthesis of octahedral Pt-Ag alloy mesocrystals with precisely controlled morphology, size, and exposing facets, formed by oriented aggregation of their crystallites. The critical role of bromide was revealed in regulating the overall octahedral morphology of the Pt-Ag mesocrystals by bridging the interactions between the capping agent and the Ag-modified Pt crystallites. The size of the mesocrystals was precisely controlled in a broad range by tuning the number of the seeds, all retaining their octahedral morphology. Based on these understandings, octahedral Pt-Ag mesocrystals exposing {111} facets have been obtained in a highly controllable and reproducible manner. This material showed excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability in oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). We believe the current synthesis with new insights paves a way to diverse faceted nanocrystals/mesocrystals for high-performance catalytic and many other applications.