Facile fabrication of Ag-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles in ultrathin TiO(2)-gel films: nanoparticle morphology and catalytic activity

Ag-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared directly in ultrathin TiO(2)-gel films by a stepwise ion-exchange/reduction approach. Ion-exchange sites were created in ultrathin films using Mg(2+) ions as template. Ag(+) ion was then incorporated by ion exchange, and converted into metallic nanoparticles by low-temperature H(2) plasma, regenerating ion-exchange sites. The same procedure was then carried out for Pd(2+) ion, producing Pd-on-Ag bimetallic nanoparticles, as TEM observation and plasmon resonance absorption indicate. By contrast, reversed metal incorporation procedure appeared to give a mixture of individual Ag and Pd nanoparticles, as confirmed by TEM, absorption spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For hydrogenation of methyl acrylate, the catalytic activity of the Pd-on-Ag nanoparticle is 367 times as large as that of commercial Pd black and 1.6 times as large as that of Pd monometallic nanoparticle. The outstanding catalytic activity was explicable by the large fraction of the surface-exposed Pd atoms. The formation process of the bimetallic nanoparticle and their general morphological feature are discussed.     

Synthesis of Au, Au/Ag, Au/Pt and Au/Pd nanoparticles using the microwave-polyol method

Gold, Au/Ag, Au/Pt and Au/Pd bimetallic nanoparticles with varying mol fractions were synthesized in ethylene glycol and glycerol, using the microwave technique in the presence of a stabilizer poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). It was found that bimetallic colloids of Au/Ag, Au/Pd and Au/Pt form an alloy either on co-reduction of respective metal ions or on mixing individual sols.     

Atomic ensemble and electronic effects in Ag-rich AgPd nanoalloy catalysts for oxygen reduction in alkaline media

The ability to design and characterize uniform, bimetallic alloy nanoparticles, where the less active metal enhances the activity of the more active metal, would be of broad interest in catalysis. Herein, we demonstrate that simultaneous reduction of Ag and Pd precursors provides uniform, Ag-rich AgPd alloy nanoparticles (~5 nm) with high activities for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. The particles are crystalline and uniformly alloyed, as shown by X-ray diffraction and probe corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. The ORR mass activity per total metal was 60% higher for the AgPd(2) alloy relative to pure Pd. The mass activities were 2.7 and 3.2 times higher for Ag(9)Pd (340 mA/mg(metal)) and Ag(4)Pd (598 mA/mg(metal)), respectively, than those expected for a linear combination of mass activities of Ag (60 mA/mg(Ag)) and Pd (799 mA/mg(Pd)) particles, based on rotating disk voltammetry. Moreover, these synergy factors reached 5-fold on a Pd mass basis. For silver-rich alloys (Ag(≥4)Pd), the particle surface is shown to contain single Pd atoms surrounded by Ag from cyclic voltammetry and CO stripping measurements. This morphology is favorable for the high activity through a combination of modified electronic structure, as shown by XPS, and ensemble effects, which facilitate the steps of oxygen bond breaking and desorption for the ORR. This concept of tuning the heteroatomic interactions on the surface of small nanoparticles with low concentrations of precious metals for high synergy in catalytic activity may be expected to be applicable to a wide variety of nanoalloys.     

Oxidation of ethanol on carbon-supported oxide-rich Pd–W bimetallic nanoparticles in alkaline media

Carbon-supported oxide-rich Pd–W bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared by chemical reduction methods. The existence of oxides in the electrocatalysts is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. XPS analysis indicates that the oxygen atoms account for about 50% of all the atoms in Pd–W bimetallic nanoparticles. Compared to Pd/C catalyst, the carbon-supported oxide-rich Pd–W bimetallic nanoparticles exhibit a better catalytic activity for the anode oxidation of ethanol in alkaline media. The onset potential of the as prepared oxide-rich Pd_0.8W_0.2/C catalyst (Pd: W = 8: 2, metal atom ratio) for ethanol oxidation is negative shifted about 90 mV comparing to Pd/C catalyst. The oxide-rich Pd–W/C electrocatalysts provide a new model of noble-metal/promoter system as an extreme case of making the promoter (WO₃) closely adjacent to the noble metal (Pd) by fabricating nanoparticles containing both atom-clusters of oxides and the noble metal atoms.

     

Fabrication of Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles by UPD-redox replacement: Application in the electrochemical reduction of benzyl chloride

The bimetallic Ag/Au nanoparticles were prepared by underpotential deposition-redox replacement technique on the basis of Au nanoparticles modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The as-prepared Ag/Au nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles modified GC electrode with low-Ag loading exhibits much better catalytic activity for the reduction of benzyl chloride than Ag nanoparticles modified GC electrode. The result is attributed to the synergic effect between Ag and Au in the reduction process. The chronoamperometry test shows that the Ag/Au nanoparticles possess long-term performance in the electrolysis.     

Formation of bimetallic Ag-Pd nanoclusters via the reaction between Ag nanoclusters and Pd2+ ions

We have investigated systematically the mechanistic aspects of the Ag-Pd bimetallic cluster formation within sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles by using in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). A two-step sequential reduction method is employed for the synthesis of Ag-Pd bimetallic clusters. The first step involves preparation of Ag nanoclusters, by mixing the Ag+ ions containing the AOT microemulsion system with a reducing agent hydrazine (N2H4) containing the AOT microemulsion system. In the second step, the addition of Pd2+ ions to Ag nanoclusters led to the formation of Ag-Pd bimetallic clusters via the reaction between Ag nanoclusters and Pd2+ ions in AOT reverse micelles. The reduction of silver ions and the formation of corresponding Ag nanoclusters are monitored as a function of the dosage of the reducing agent, hydrazine. In-situ XAS allowed probing of the reaction between Ag nanoclusters and Pd2+ ions during the formation of Ag-Pd bimetallic clusters. Analysis of Ag and Pd K-edge XAS spectra reveals that in the final stage Ag-Pd clusters, in which "Ag" atoms prefer to be surrounded by "Pd" and "Pd" atoms prefer to be surrounded by "Pd", were formed. On the basis of XAS results presented here, we are able to propose a structural model for each step so that this work provides a detailed insight into the mechanism of nucleation and growth of Ag-Pd bimetallic clusters. We also discussed the atomic distribution of Ag and Pd atoms in Ag-Pd bimetallic clusters based on the calculated XAS structural parameters.     

Graphene nanoplatelets supported metal nanoparticles for electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine

Graphene nanoplatelets have been applied as the support to electrodeposit monometallic Au and Pd nanoparticles as well as bimetallic Au–Pd nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have been characterized with scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques. They are further utilized as the catalysts for electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine. The oxidation peak potential is − 0.35 and 0.53 V (vs. SCE) when monometallic Pd and Au nanoparticle are used as the catalysts. When bimetallic nanoparticles are applied as the catalyst, their composition affects the peak potential and peak current for the oxidation of hydrazine. Higher oxidation current is achieved when bimetallic Au–Pd nanoparticles with an atomic ratio of 3:1 are deposited on graphene nanoplatelets. Metal nanoparticle-loaded graphene nanoplatelets are thus novel platforms for electrocatalytic, electroanalytical, environmental, and related applications.     

Pd/Ni异结构纳米催化剂的制备及其对甲酸氧化的电催化

通过两步还原法制备了Pd/Ni双金属催化剂.由于金属Pd原子在先行还原的Ni纳米粒子表面的外延生长以及其在Ni表面及Pd表面生长表现出的吉布斯自由能差异,最终导致了异结构Pd/Ni纳米粒子的形成.高分辨电子透射显微镜结果证实了异结构的存在,然而X射线衍射测量表明Pd/Ni纳米粒子具有类似于Pd的面心立方结构.制备的Pd/Ni纳米粒子与同等条件下合成的Pd纳米粒子相比对甲酸氧化呈现了更高的电催化活性,而且电催化稳定性也要明显优于纯Pd纳米粒子,证明Pd/Ni双金属催化剂是可选的直接甲酸燃料电池阳极催化剂.双金属催化剂对甲酸氧化电催化活性和稳定性增强可能是Ni原子的修饰改变了Pd粒子表面配位不饱和原子的电子结构所致.     

Spontaneous formation of core/shell bimetallic nanoparticles: a calorimetric study

We showed recently that low entropy core/shell structured nanoparticles form spontaneously from the physical mixture of a dispersion of Ag nanoparticles and that of another noble metal (Rh, Pd, or Pt) at room temperature. Here we use isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and show that the initial step of such a spontaneous process is strongly exothermic. When the alcohol dispersion of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP)-protected Rh nanoparticles (average diameter 2.3 nm) was titrated into the alcoholic dispersion of PVP-protected Ag nanoparticles, a strong exothermic enthalpy change, DeltaH, was observed: DeltaH = -908 kJ/mol for Ag(S) nanoparticle (average diameter 10.8 nm) and -963 kJ/mol for Ag(L) nanoparticles (average diameter 22.5 nm). The strength of interaction increases in the order of Rh/Ag > Pd/Ag > Pt/Ag. This strong exothermic interaction is considered as a driving force to from low entropy bimetallic nanoparticles by simple mixing of two kinds of monometallic nanoparticles. We show also that exothermic interactions occur between a pair of noble metal nanoparticles themselves by using ITC.     

Bimetallic (Ag)Au nanoparticles prepared by the seed growth method: two-dimensional assembling, characterization by energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, and proposed mechanism of growth

Layered core-shell bimetallic silver-gold nanoparticles were prepared by overdeposition of Au over Ag seeds by the seed-growth method using tetrachloroauric acid, with hydroxylamine hydrochloride as the reductant. The effects of pH, reduction rate, and seeding conditions on the morphology and surface plasmon extinction of the bimetallic nanoparticles were investigated. Nanoparticles prepared by a rapid reduction in the neutral ambient and assembled into two-dimensional nanoparticulate films by adsorption of 2,2'-bipyridine were characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results are consistent with Ag core and Ag/Au-alloyed shell composition of the nanoparticles. Evidence of the presence of Ag on the surface of the nanoparticles, of enrichment of the Ag/Au alloy shell by Ag toward or at the nanoparticle surface, and of modification of the nanoparticle surface by adsorbed chlorides is also provided. Reduction of the size of the Ag seeds, alloying of Ag and Au in the shell of the nanoparticles, and modification of their surfaces by adsorbed chlorides are tentatively attributed to positive charging of the nanoparticles during the electrocatalytic overdeposition of Au over Ag seeds.     

Synthesis, characterization, and structure-selective extraction of 1-3-nm diameter AuAg dendrimer-encapsulated bimetallic nanoparticles

The synthesis and characterization of 1-3-nm diameter, structurally well-defined, bimetallic AuAg dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) are reported. Three different bimetallic structures were examined: AuAg alloys synthesized by cocomplexation and subsequent reduction of dendrimer-encapsulated Au3+ and Ag+ and core/shell [Au](Ag) and [AuAg alloy](Ag) structures (for structured materials, brackets indicate the core metal and parentheses indicate the shell metal) synthesized by a sequential loading method. Depending on the shell metal and its oxidation state, the AuAg nanoparticles can be extracted from the dendrimer into an organic phase using different surfactants. This provides a means for analyzing the composition of the shell. UV-vis, TEM, and single-particle X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the bimetallic DENs before and after extraction and show that the extraction step does not alter the size or composition of the bimetallic nanoparticles.     

Microemulsion-templated synthesis of carbon nanotube-supported pd and rh nanoparticles for catalytic applications

Palladium, rhodium, and bimetallic Pd/Rh nanoparticles synthesized in a water-in-hexane microemulsion can be deposited directly on surfaces of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes with high yields. The CNT-supported Pd nanoparticles are active catalysts for hydrogenation of olefins, for carbon-carbon bond formation, and for carbon-oxygen bond cleavage reactions. The CNT-supported Rh nanoparticles are active catalysts for hydrogenation of arenes, and the CNT-supported bimetallic Pd/Rh nanoparticles show an unusually high catalytic activity for hydrogenation of anthracene. This simple and novel synthetic technique for making CNT-supported monometallic and bimetallic nanoparticles may have a wide range of catalytic applications for chemical syntheses.     

A general method for the rapid synthesis of hollow metallic or bimetallic nanoelectrocatalysts with urchinlike morphology

We have reported a facile and general method for the rapid synthesis of hollow nanostructures with urchinlike morphology. In-situ produced Ag nanoparticles can be used as sacrificial templates to rapidly synthesize diverse hollow urchinlike metallic or bimetallic (such as Au/Pt) nanostructures. It has been found that heating the solution at 100 degrees C during the galvanic replacement is very necessary for obtaining urchinlike nanostructures. Through changing the molar ratios of Ag to Pt, the wall thickness of hollow nanospheres can be easily controlled; through changing the diameter of Ag nanoparticles, the size of cavity of hollow nanospheres can be facilely controlled; through changing the morphologies of Ag nanostructures from nanoparticle to nanowire, hollow Pt nanotubes can be easily designed. This one-pot approach can be extended to synthesize other hollow nanospheres such as Pd, Pd/Pt, Au/Pd, and Au/Pt. The features of this technique are that it is facile, quick, economical, and versatile. Most importantly, the hollow bimetallic nanospheres (Au/Pt and Pd/Pt) obtained here exhibit an area of greater electrochemical activity than other Pt hollow or solid nanospheres. In addition, the approximately 6 nm hollow urchinlike Pt nanospheres can achieve a potential of up to 0.57 V for oxygen reduction, which is about 200 mV more positive than that obtained by using a approximately 6 nm Pt nanoparticle modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. Rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) voltammetry demonstrates that approximately 6 nm hollow Pt nanospheres can catalyze an almost four-electron reduction of O(2) to H(2)O in air-saturated H(2)SO(4) (0.5 M). Finally, compared to the approximately 6 nm Pt nanoparticle catalyst, the approximately 6 nm hollow urchinlike Pt nanosphere catalyst exhibits a superior electrocatalytic activity toward the methanol oxidation reaction at the same Pt loadings.     

Interaction between Pd and Ag on the surface of silica

Palladium, silver and palladium–silver catalysts supported on silica were prepared by coimpregnation of support with solution of AgNO₃ and Pd(NO₃)₂. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), time of flight ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), chemisorption of carbon monoxide and were tested in the reaction of selective oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid.

XRD and TPR studies have shown that an interaction between Pd and Ag on the surface of silica after oxidation at 500 °C and reduction at 260 °C leads to the formation of solid solutions.

ToF-SIMS images of the surface of 5% Ag/SiO₂ catalyst after oxidation at 500 °C and reduction at 260 °C show that Ag atoms supported on silica are not distributed homogenously but tend to form regions of enhanced Ag concentration. Positive ions images of the surface of 5% Pd/SiO₂ catalyst also display regions of enhanced concentration of Pd atoms, but they are more homogenously distributed on silica.

ToF-SIMS peak intensity ratio ¹⁰⁸Pd⁺/¹⁰⁷Ag⁺ for bimetallic 5% Pd–5% Ag/SiO₂ catalysts has a lower value than that obtained for physical mixture 5% Pd/SiO₂–5% Ag/SiO₂ which indicates that the surface of bimetallic catalyst is enriched with silver atoms.     

Synthesis and structure of colloids and films from Pd–Ag in organic solvents

Pd/Ag bimetallic particles are dispersed in acetone, 2-propanol and 2-methoxyethanol. The colloids are prepared by codeposition of the vapors of metals and solvents at 77 K. The stabilities of the Pd/Ag colloids are in the order acetone>2-methoxyethanol~2-propanol. The particles are studied by transmission electron microscopy to determine their size and also by electron diffraction to study their crystal structure. The Pd/Ag samples exhibit more than one metallic phase in the different solvents, these being Pd, Ag and Pd/Ag. The crystallinity is controlled by the Pd/Ag ratio; the crystalline phases in the bimetallic particles can be observed using the dark field technique. The differential scanning calorimetry of Pd/Ag-2-methoxyethanol solids shows three exothermic peaks in which phase transformation, microcrystal growth and solvent decomposition of the solvent in the solid are observed. However, the differential scanning calorimetry of Pd/Ag-acetone solids shows two exothermic peaks.     

Generation of nanoparticles with adjustable size and controlled stoichiometry: recent advances

We present a bottom-up fabrication route based on the sputtering gas aggregation source that allows the generation of nanoparticles with controllable and tunable chemical composition while keeping the control of the cluster size. We demonstrate that the chemical composition of the particles can be monitored by the individual adjustment of the working parameters of the magnetrons inserted in a gas aggregation zone. Such control of the parameters leads to a fine control of the ion density of each target material and hence to the control of the chemical composition of the nanoparticles. In particular, we show through X-ray photoemission, atomic force microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy that it is possible to generate bimetallic (AgAu) and trimetallic (AgAuPd) alloy nanoparticles with well-defined and tunable stoichiometries from three targets of pure Ag, Au, and Pd. The proposed route for the generation of nanoparticles opens new possibilities for the fabrication of nanoparticles using a physical method that, for some applications, could be complementary to the chemical methods.     

Supported Pd-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles that have high activity for the electrochemical oxidation of methanol

Monodisperse bimetallic Pd-Cu nanoparticles with controllable size and composition were synthesized by a one-step multiphase ethylene glycol (EG) method. Adjusting the stoichiometric ratio of the Pd and Cu precursors afforded nanoparticles with different compositions, such as Pd(85)-Cu(15), Pd(56)-Cu(44), and Pd(39)-Cu(61). The nanoparticles were separated from the solution mixture by extraction with non-polar solvents, such as n-hexane. Monodisperse bimetallic Pd-Cu nanoparticles with narrow size-distribution were obtained without the need for a size-selection process. Capping ligands that were bound to the surface of the particles were removed through heat treatment when the as-prepared nanoparticles were loaded onto a Vulcan XC-72 carbon support. Supported bimetallic Pd-Cu nanoparticles showed enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation compared with supported Pd nanoparticles that were fabricated according to the same EG method. For a bimetallic Pd-Cu catalyst that contained 15?% Cu, the activity was even comparable to the state-of-the-art commercially available Pt/C catalysts. A STEM-HAADF study indicated that the formation of random solid-solution alloy structures in the bimetallic Pd(85)-Cu(15)/C catalysts played a key role in improving the electrochemical activity.     

Precipitation of silver/palladium alloy platelets from homogeneous solutions

Dispersed silver/palladium (Ag/Pd) nanoplatelets were prepared by delivering in parallel solutions of mixed metal nitrates and L-ascorbic acid into a nitric acid solution containing Arabic gum. The shape and size of bimetallic nanoparticles varied with the silver/palladium weight ratio and the concentration of nitric acid. The optimum conditions for platelets formation were a palladium content of ~2.0 wt.% and nitric acid concentrations above 1.0 mol dm(-3). The data presented show that both parameters play a critical role in the nucleation and growth of AgPd particles. A mechanism explaining the formation of the bimetallic nanoplatelets is proposed.     

Synthesis of PVP stabilized Cu/Pd nanoparticles with citrate complexing agent and its application as an activator for electroless copper deposition

A simple method has been developed to synthesize Cu/Pd nanoparticles in aqueous solution in ambient condition with the addition of complexing agent, trisodium citrate. UV-vis spectra confirmed the complexing behavior of trisodium citrate and metal ions. The particles synthesized with trisodium citrate were well dispersed with particle size ranging between 3-4 nm while the particles without trisodium citrate were larger and aggregated, as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) indicated the formation of bimetallic nanoparticles without impurities in the complexing agent-supplemented system. In contrast, large amounts of PdO and Cu(OH)(2) were precipitated along with the formation of particles in the complexing agent-free system. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed small amounts of oxidized Pd on the surface of particles and the existence of zerovalent Cu and oxidized Cu in particles with trisodium citrate. With a simpler process for electroless copper deposition, the Cu/Pd nanoparticle activator with less Pd metal used exhibited comparable catalytic activity to conventional Pd/Sn colloidal activator. In summary, application of Cu/Pd nanoparticles synthesized with the complexing agent as an activator suggested a novel, simpler and inexpensive process in PCB industry.     

Pd/Co双金属纳米颗粒的制备及催化制氢性能

采用聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)保护的化学共还原法制备了Pd/Co双金属纳米颗粒, 研究了PVP及还原剂(NaBH₄)的用量、金属盐浓度、金属比例等对Pd/Co双金属纳米颗粒催化NaBH₄制氢性能的影响. 透射电子显微镜(TEM)的结果表明, 所制备的Pd/Co双金属纳米颗粒的平均粒径在1.5-2.8 nm之间. Pd/Co双金属纳米颗粒(BNPs)的催化活性远高于Pd与Co单金属纳米颗粒的活性; 当Pd/Co的理论原子比为1/9时, 双金属纳米颗粒的催化活性最高可达15570 mol·mol^-1·h^-1 (文中纳米颗粒的催化活性均为每摩尔Pd的活性). 密度泛函理论(DFT)的计算结果表明, Pd原子与Co原子之间发生电荷转移, 使得Pd原子带负电而Co原子带正电, 荷电的Pd和Co原子进而成为催化反应的活性中心. 所制备的Pd/Co双金属纳米颗粒具有很好的催化耐久性, 即使重复使用5次后, 该催化剂仍具有较高的催化活性, 且使用后的纳米颗粒催化剂也没有出现团聚现象. 双金属纳米颗粒催化NaBH₄水解反应的活化能约为54 kJ·mol^-1.