A core-shell catalyst material can include a core and a shell material. Each of the core material and the shell material can have crystal structures and lattice parameters which allow for a substantially coherent core-shell interface. The shell material can include a catalytically active metal. The circumferential stress of the shell material, σθθ, at the core-shell interface and at the shell surface, is greater than 0 (tensile) or can be compressive of a lower magnitude than a catalyst made of the shell material alone. The crystal structures of the core material can often be the same as the shell material, although this is not always required.