Through the tailored design of bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) as anodic catalysts, the activity and durability in electrocatalytic alcohol oxidation can be enhanced due to the interesting synergy between the two different components, compared to single-component metal NPs. We show the direct growth of monodispersed AuPd bimetallic NPs in the size range of 2-5 nm on nitrided carbon support via a facile seed-mediated growth method, where ultrasmall Au nanoclusters (1.8 ± 0.3 nm) supported on nitrided carbon were used as seeds. Pd or AuPd shell was homogeneously deposited on the Au core via the reduction by ascorbic acid in the presence of surfactant 4-MBA. The sizes and surface compositions of AuPd bimetallic NPs are precisely controllable by tuning the feeding ratio of the metal precursors in the growth solution. Interestingly, the resultant core-shell AuPd bimetallic NPs could be converted to alloyed AuPd NPs when subjected to a mild thermal treatment at 250 oC for 1 h. The chemical compositions of the AuPd alloyed NPs were determined by combining electron microscopy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface oxygen desorption using electrochemical reduction of catalysts. The catalytic stability, poison resistance and charge transfer rate of AuPd alloyed NPs for the ethanol electrooxidation are significantly enhanced, meanwhile maintaining the high activity after incorporating Au into Pd. Au0.45Pd0.55-5@NC exhibited the superior specific activity of 1.11 mA/cm2 and mass activity of &gt; 0.4 A/mgmetal toward ethanol oxidation, outperforming all the other catalysts including commercial Pd/C.

Direct growth of nitrided carbon supported ultrasmall AuPd bimetallic nanoparticles with enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards ethanol oxidation

256th National Meeting (2018)

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