Encapsulation of Pd sub-nanoclusters in SiO2 nanospheres by a reverse microemulsion method

Abstract

Pd sub-nanoclusters (mean size 0.7[Formula: see text]nm) encapsulated in SiO2 nanospheres (mean size 37[Formula: see text]nm) with Pd@SiO2 core-shell configuration were synthesized using a reverse microemulsion method in a water/CTAB/n-butanol/cyclohexane system. The Pd sub-nanoclusters dispersed homogeneously throughout the SiO2 shell and the loading of Pd was as high as 4.03[Formula: see text]wt.%. The Pd sub-nanoclusters were successfully synthesized by controlling the nucleation and growth processes of Pd[Formula: see text]H2O precursor.