Facile Synthesis and in situ TEM Observation of Nanoporous Pd for Enhanced Catalytic Applications

Abstract

Summary of main observation and conclusionA facile, efficient and green photochemical synthetic approach has been used to prepare sponge‐like porous Pd nanoparticles. Obtained by ultraviolet irradiation using a K2PdCl4 precursor solution, the final products exhibited three dimensionally interconnected porous structures made up of ~3.6 nm sized Pd nanoparticles. In situ liquid cell TEM results indicated such porous structures are in a dynamic stable state when the particles are distributed in aqueous solution. The porous Pd nanoparticles exhibited electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of up to 43 m2·g–1 and mass activity of 1144 mA·mg–1 in menthol oxidation, kapp of 0.22 min–1 and normalized kapp/m (kn) of 8.3×104 min–1·g–1 in 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) reduction reactions. Comparing with the literature, it is demonstrated that our porous Pd nanoparticles with clean surfaces exhibited very high catalytic performances. This work may shed a light on facile and green synthesis of noble‐metal particles with better catalytic performances.