Unlocking the full potential of platinum group metals with simpler and more sustainable syntheses of nanomaterials

Platinum group metals (PGMs) are key for various applications in electronics, optics, medicine, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion, water / air treatment and many more. Unfortunately, Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Ir and Os are limited resources. If efficient recycling is a key aspect of the life cycle of PGMs, another important aspect is the optimal actual use of the PGM resources. Optimal use can be achieved by designing nanomaterials down to the atomic scale to make the most of every single PGM atom. In this direction, a parameter often overlooked is the careful selection and development of the synthetic routes selected to obtain the desired PGM-based nanomaterials. Indeed, the way the nanomaterials are obtained can greatly influence their resulting properties and condition their use, activity, stability, and potentially even their recyclability. For PGMs to truly contribute to more sustainable technologies and processes, how PGM nanomaterials are obtained could benefit from more sustainable syntheses. An account of emerging simpler and potentially more sustainable syntheses of PGM nanomaterials, their various benefits and remaining challenges is proposed.