The invention relates to novel nanoparticles comprising a metal core
containing at least one platinoid or an alloy of a platinoid, a first
organic coating formed from molecules attached to the surface of the
metal core, and a second organic coating formed from molecules different
from the molecules forming the first organic coating, and which are
grafted onto molecules of the first organic coating. The invention also
relates to the use of the nanoparticles as catalysts. The fields of
application include devices for producing electrical energy, in
particular in fuel cells, devices for detecting or assaying one or more
chemical or biological species, in particular in sensors or multisensors,
etc.