Palladium nanoballs synthesized in hexagonal mesophases

Three-dimensional connected Pd nanowires forming nanoballs have been synthesized by slow reduction of Pd-II in hexagonal mesophases made by a quaternary system (water/cyclohexane/surfactant/cosurfactant). Both confinement and slow reduction are necessary to obtain these new nanostructures. This material exhibits remarkable electrocatalytic behavior for ethanol oxidation in 1 M KOH and appears as a promising candidate for use in direct ethanol fuel cells.