Patent ID: 8110021

Claim:
A method of preparing Pt and Co-containing nanoparticles comprising providing a Pt-containing precursor; providing a Co-containing precursor; providing at least one capping component; optionally, providing a reducing agent; contacting the two precursors together with the at least one capping component in a solvent-free system to form a Pt and Co-containing reaction mixture; heating the reaction mixture; and producing Pt and Co-containing nanoparticles ranging in diameter from about 6 nm to about 12 nm; wherein the size of the Pt and Co-containing nanoparticles is controlled by the overall concentration of the Pt-containing precursor and the Co-containing precursor, wherein an increase in the overall concentration of the Pt-containing precursor and the Co-containing precursor increases the diameter of the Pt and Co-containing nanoparticles.