Gold-Containing Core/Shell-Structured Bi- and Trimetallic Nanoparticle Catalysts: Preparation, Structure and Properties

Abstract

Gold-containing bimetallic and trimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs and TNPs) have been widely investigated with a view to improve the quality of the catalyst. The Au-containing BNPs and TNPs with alloyed and core/shell structures have usually higher catalytic activities than monometallic NPs due to the synergistic effects between the two or three metals. In this mini-review, we provide the recent developments of the Au-containing core/shell structured BNPs and TNPs with improved catalytic performance mainly from our recent results, and we think that the high catalytic activities of the BNPs and TNPs can be ascribed to the presence of electronic charge transfer effects and geometric effects in these NPs.