Shape- and Size-Controlled Palladium Nanocrystals and Their Electrocatalytic Properties in the Oxidation of Ethanol

Seokhee Lee; Hyeongkyu Cho; Hyeon Jeong Kim; Jong Wook Hong; Young Wook Lee

doi:10.3390/ma14112970

Shape- and Size-Controlled Palladium Nanocrystals and Their Electrocatalytic Properties in the Oxidation of Ethanol

Materials (Basel). 2021 May 31;14(11):2970. doi: 10.3390/ma14112970.

Authors

Seokhee Lee¹, Hyeongkyu Cho¹, Hyeon Jeong Kim², Jong Wook Hong³, Young Wook Lee⁴

Affiliations

¹ Energy & Environment Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology (KICET), Jinju 52851, Korea.
² Department of Chemistry and Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea.
³ Department of Chemistry, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, Korea.
⁴ Department of Education Chemistry and Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea.

Abstract

Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) were synthesized in an aqueous environment via the reduction of K₂PdCl₄ by a surfactant under a high temperature. Highly monodisperse spherical PdNPs and multi-pod PdNPs with a controlled size ranging from 18 to 50 nm were prepared in high yields by varying the concentration of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride. The structural and optical properties of the synthesized Pd NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and UV-vis spectroscopy. The spherical and multi-pod PdNPs exhibited catalytic properties that were unique to their size and shape and presented efficient electrocatalytic activities toward the ethanol oxidation reaction.

Keywords: Pd nanoparticles; electrocatalytic activity; ethanol oxidation reaction; size control.