Bimetallic PdCu Nanoparticles for Electrocatalysis: Multiphase or Homogeneous Alloy?

Yuanzhe Cheng; Jing Xue; Min Yang; Hongliang Li; Peizhi Guo

doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c01056

Bimetallic PdCu Nanoparticles for Electrocatalysis: Multiphase or Homogeneous Alloy?

Inorg Chem. 2020 Aug 3;59(15):10611-10619. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c01056. Epub 2020 Jul 17.

Authors

Yuanzhe Cheng¹, Jing Xue¹, Min Yang¹, Hongliang Li¹, Peizhi Guo¹

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Materials for Energy and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Bio-fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China.

PMID: 32678586
DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c01056

Abstract

Crystal phase structure of bimetallic alloy is an important factor determining the electrocatalytic activity toward oxidation of energy molecules. In this paper, PdCu bimetallic NPs with similar element composition and different crystal phase structural features have been synthesized hydrothermally by adjusting the content of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-2Na). Multiphase PdCu NPs composed of pure Pd and alloy phase are obtained with a low concentration (even as low as zero) of EDTA-2Na in synthetic systems while homogeneous PdCu alloy NPs are formed in the presence of EDTA-2Na with a high concentration. The catalytic activity of ethanol electrooxidation is increased from 3.1 mA·cm^-2 of pure Pd NPs, to 3.6 mA·cm^-2 of multiphase PdCu NPs, and to 5.0 mA·cm^-2 of homogeneous PdCu alloy NPs (about 2360 mA mg_Pd^-1). The surface composition and structural stability of homogeneous PdCu NPs were much less damaged during electrochemical measurements. Based on the experimental data, the formation mechanism of multiphase and homogeneous PdCu NPs and their structure-property relationship have been discussed.