Simple polyol synthesis of porous coral-like palladium–silver alloy nanostructures with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for glycerol oxidation reaction

Abstract

In this work, porous bimetallic palladium–silver (Pd₆₃Ag₃₇) alloy nanocorals were synthesized by a simple and facile one-pot polyol method. The composition and morphology of the nanocrystals were well controlled by changing the concentrations of the precursors. The obtained nanocrystals were mainly characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. Porous Pd₆₃Ag₃₇ nanocorals had an enlarged electrochemically active surface area (55.85 m² g⁻¹), and exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity and improved stability for glycerol oxidation reaction as compared to commercial Pd black, owing to the unique porous coral-like nanostructures and synergistic interactions of the alloyed bimetals.