Synthesis of short palladium nanoparticle chains and their application in catalysis

Abstract: A one step polyol process has been used to synthesize linear assemblies of Pd nanoparticles (NPs). TEM images show that highly linearly ordered Pd NP chains (about 8.5nm in diameter) have been formed, and the inter-particle distance is about 1.4±0.6nm. The Pd NP chains can be obtained by adding NH3·H2O and prolonging the heating time. A scaffolding mechanism is proposed to understand the short-ranged order of the Pd NP chains. The as-obtained Pd nanochains at Pd NCh/MWCNTs/GCE displayed high activity in the electrocatalytic oxidation of NO. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]