Biogenic flower-shaped Au-Pd nanoparticles: synthesis, SERS detection and catalysis towards benzyl alcohol oxidation

similar to 40 nm flower-shaped Au-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared in a facile and eco-friendly way based on the simultaneous bioreduction of HAuCl4 and Na2PdCl4 with ascorbic acid and Cacumen Platycladi leaf extract at room temperature. Characterization techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, were employed to confirm that the as-synthesized nanoparticles were alloys. The obtained flower-shaped Au-Pd alloy nanoparticles exhibited an excellent surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic activity with rhodamine 6G and efficient catalytic ability for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde.