METHOD FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF HIGH EFFICIENCY PT BRANCHED NANOCATALYSTS

A method for making a branched metal nanocatalyst including providing a first metal precursor solution having a first metal precursor, wherein providing the first metal precursor solution includes combining a first metal ion source and a first alkylamine, and providing a second metal precursor solution, wherein providing the second metal precursor solution includes combining a second metal ion source and a second alkylamine, heating the second metal precursor solution, combining the first metal precursor solution with the second metal precursor solution to provide a reaction solution, and holding the reaction solution at an elevated temperature for a reaction time to provide a branched metal nanocatalyst. Also described are nanocatalysts prepared according to the method.