Electrochemical synthesis, voltammetric behavior, and electrocatalytic activity of Pd nanoparticles

Size-controlled Pd nanoparticles were electrochemically synthesized in large quantities at room temperature through the direct electroreduction of bulk PdCl42- ions in the presence of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) a water-soluble polymer. The technological key to electrochemical synthesis of Pd particles is that PVP greatly promoted the formation process of Pd particles and inhibited the electrodeposition process of Pd onto the Pt cathode at the same time besides effectively stabilizing the formed Pd nanoparticles. The as-synthesized Pd nanoparticles display the voltammetric behavior significantly different from the bulk Pd and also present a high catalytic activity toward the electrooxidation of methanol.