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ABSTRACT: Aiming at investigating the effect of structure on electrocatalytic properties, Pd(50)Ru(50) nanoparticles (NPs) with three different structures were carefully designed in a one-pot polyol process for application in formic acid electrooxidation. The three structures are: (1) single-phase PdRu nanodendrites (denoted as PR-1), (2) a mixed-phase mixture of PdRu nanodendrites and monometallic Ru NPs (denoted as PR-2), and (3) a mixed-phase mixture of monometallic Pd and Ru NPs (denoted as PR-3). From PR-1 to PR-3, the structure was varied from single-phase to mixed-phase. The relative position of Ru was altered from completely Pd-connected (PR-1), to a mixture of Pd-connected and monometallic (PR-2), and completely monometallic (PR-3). All PdRu NPs outperform the commercial Pd/C. PR-2 exhibits the highest peak current density, but its stability is slightly lower than that of PR-3. When both the current density and the durability are taken into consideration, PR-2 is the best choice of catalyst for formic acid oxidation. It indicates that both the Pd-connected Ru NPs and monometallic Ru NPs in the mixed-phase PR-2 are essential to improve the electrocatalytic properties. Our study also illustrates that the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) and hydrogen storage capacity of the as-prepared PdRu NPs are greatly enhanced after several hundred scans in formic acid, indicating the possibility for highly restorable catalysts in direct formic acid fuel cells.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 05/2012; 14(22):8051-7. · 3.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To precisely discuss the influence of secondary metals on the whole nanosystem, two different types of Pd/Au dimers are constructed by reducing Au precursors with or without ascorbic acid. The number and size of gold nanoparticles attaching on larger Pd nanocrystals can be roughly controlled. Furthermore, based on electrocatalysis, we find that multidecorated dimers are generally more active than singly decorated ones. Meanwhile, the amount of Au precursor used in preparing multidecorated dimers is found to be very important to the catalytic activity of the as-prepared catalysts. The performance of the catalyst is enhanced with the increasing of Au precursor when the Au/Pd molar ratio is below 1:4, but hindered when the ratio climbs higher. Finally, this work provides a promising approach in forming hybrid nanocompositions to find an optimized amount of secondary metal, which is of significance in academic and economic fields.
Chemistry 06/2011; 17(30):8440-4. · 5.93 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Quartz slides bearing layers of a palladium azopyridine complex are seen to liberate catalytic amounts of a soluble active palladium species which can be used for Suzuki coupling.
Chemical Communications 10/2010; 46(40):7584-6. · 6.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A series of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) smaller than 3 nm were successfully encapsulated in dendrimer/SBA-15 organic and inorganic hybrid composite. The obtained catalysts were characterized by XPS, XRD and TEM. The results of XPS and XRD indicate the existence of Pt NPs in the hybrid matrix. TEM images display the Pt NPs with narrow size distribution are monodispersed in SBA-15 channels. Catalytic property of the supported Pt catalysts was investigated in inorganic (ferricyanide to ferrocyanide by thiosulfate) and organic (p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol by sodium borohydride) electron transfer (redox) reactions. In both cases, the reduction reactions followed smoothly and the catalysts showed excellent catalytic activity. Moreover, the catalysts can be easily separated and reused several times preserving good catalytic performance.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 10/2010; 353(1):149-55. · 3.07 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Pd and Pd-Ag bimetallic defect-rich nanocrystals were synthesized with iodobenzene as capping agent, followed by post-treatment with ice-cooled acetone.
Chemical Communications 09/2010; 46(35):6518-20. · 6.17 Impact Factor
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Journal of Catalysis. 270(2):268-274.
