A simple, surfactant-free solvothermal method is reported for the preparation of <10 nm shape-controlled platinum crystallites. Reactions were carried out in N,Ndimethyformamide (DMF) and DMF−water mixtures. Effects of reaction time and temperature, DMF−water ratio, and metal precursor salt were examined. When the reaction conditions were tuned, ensembles of Pt particles with dominant truncated octahedral/ cuboctahedral or cubic shapes could be formed from the metal acetylacetonate (acac) precursor salt. Metal nanocrystal development was monitored through the use of highresolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray and electrochemical analysis methods. Voltammograms probing CO and formic acid oxidation over shapecontrolled nanocrystals adsorbed to a glassy carbon electrode displayed expected features characteristic of extended ( 111) and (100) facets, confirming the stability and surface cleanliness of particles taken directly from the reaction mixture. A mechanism for Pt reduction and the growth and stabilization of preferentially shaped Pt nanocrystals in the DMF−water solvent system is proposed. The involvement of DMF as a reducing agent and carboxylate ions as weakly coordinating, and hence easily displaced, nanoparticle capping ligands is discussed.