Rapid plasma electrolytic oxidation preparation of sub-3 nm half-embedded intermetallic nanocatalysts for efficient selective hydrogenation

Abstract

Herein we first report the rapid preparation of monodisperse, clean-surface sub-3 nm intermetallic nanoparticles half-embedded on porous MgO by plasma electrolytic oxidation. Atomic-resolution observation confirms the transformation from disordered solid solution to intermetallics. The nanocatalysts exhibited intermetallic phase-dependent catalytic activity and excellent stability for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol.