Catalytic Pd-on-Au nanostructures with improved Pd activity for formic acid electro-oxidation

Abstract

Controlled deposition of Pd on small Au NPs (3.2 ± 0.5 nm) is conducted to tune the Pd dispersion and electronic states in Pd-on-Au nanostructures. The as-prepared samples of high Pd utilization (>85%) are found to show stronger Pd–O interaction and intrinsically higher catalytic activity toward the electro-oxidation of formic acid.