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

Abstract

Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) were synthesized in an aqueous environment via the reduction 14 of K2PdCl4 by a surfactant under a high temperature. Highly monodisperse spherical PdNPs and 15 multi-pod PdNPs with a controlled size ranging from 18 to 50 nm were prepared in high yields by 16 varying the concentration of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride. The structural and optical proper-17 ties of the synthesized Pd NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray dif-18 fraction, and UV?vis spectroscopy. The spherical and multi-pod PdNPs exhibited catalytic proper-19 ties that were unique to their size and shape, and presented efficient electrocatalytic activities to-20 ward the ethanol oxidation reaction.