Bimetallic PdRu nanosponges with a tunable composition for ethylene glycol oxidation

Abstract

In this study, bimetallic PdRu nanosponges with regulated Pd/Ru ratios have been obtained through a simple mixing pathway. The synthetic step is simple, and proceeds just by mixing PdCl₂ and RuCl₃ aqueous solutions into NaBH₄ solution. The physical structure and chemical composition of the as-prepared nanosponges have been examined using different methods. Ethylene glycol electrooxidation reaction tests reveal the fine catalytic performance of the nanosponges, and the introduction of an appropriate amount of Ru can promote the catalytic ability of Pd. The developed synthetic pathway and the prepared materials in this contribution lead to a new practical advancement of electrocatalysts for ethylene glycol electrooxidation.