Atomically thin Pt shells on Au nanoparticle cores: facile synthesis and efficient synergetic catalysis

Atomically thin platinum shells on gold nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized in one pot under mild conditions. The core-shell NPs exhibit excellent catalysis for energy related processes such as electrochemical oxidation of biofuels, aromatic ring hydrogenation, and γ-valerolactone production.