Redox catalytic properties of palladium nanoparticles: Surfactant and electron donor-acceptor effects

Dye reduction catalyzed by palladium nanoparticles has been investigated in water and surfactant media. The initial rate of dye reduction strongly depends on the nature of the reducing agent and dye. In most cases the rate becomes surface controlled and depends on the E-1/2 values of the dye and the reducing agent. However, stronger reducing agents make the reduction process a diffusion controlled one. A detailed study has been carried out to understand the effect of surfactant on the reaction rate. A variation of the reaction rates has been observed in surfactants above and below the critical micelle concentration (cmc). Below the cmc, surfactants are adsorbed onto the Pd surface and act as a binding site for both the dye and the reducing agent. Above the cmc, surfactants form micelles which provide additional binding sites. Catalytic selectivity was also achieved by proper selection of reducing agent and surfactant.