Bimetallic Pd–Ni alloy nanoparticles with tunable dimensions, unique composition and excellent electrocatalytic activity towards methanol and ethanol oxidation reaction (MOR and EOR) in alkali, were successfully synthesized by co-reduction of metal precursors in strong alkali medium at room temperature. X-ray diffraction profiles typically signify alloy structure of the particles. Microscopy, diffraction and spectroscopy studies further conform the successful formation of Pd–Ni nanoalloy of determined diameter and morphology. The compositions of this alloy nanoparticles can be easily tuned by typically varying the Pd2+/Ni2+ molar ratio. The mol% of Ni present in the Pd–Ni bimetallic nanoalloy portrays a key role on the catalytic activity for MOR and EOR in alkali. Pd70Ni30/C catalyst exhibits the optimum synergic catalytic activity with improved oxidation of carbonaceous intermediates. Chronoamperometric study satisfactorily proves that Pd70Ni30/C is quite stable at ambient temperature and can be used as anode for MOR and EOR.

NiPd nanocatalyst assisted catalytic hydrogenation of PNP to PAP by hydrazine.

Room temperature synthesized highly active bimetallic Ni60Pd40 nanocatalyst with large surface area (150 m(2) g(-1)) exerts 100% selectivity towards hydrogen generation (3 equivalents of gas in 60 min) from hydrous hydrazine under alkaline and ambient reaction conditions. This low noble metal content catalyst offers a new prospect for on-board hydrogen production system. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A new one pot, surfactant-free, room temperature synthetic route based on coreduction of Pd2+ and Ag+ salt by ascorbic acid has been developed for the synthesis of PdxAg1-x nanoparticles (NPs). The nanoporous structure of the PdxAg1-x nanoalloy having spherical ligaments is confirmed by XRD, FESEM, EDX, TEM, HRTEM, SAED and XPS studies. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm (BET) of PdxAg1-x NPs can be classified as type V which is characteristic of a solid with mesopores. Some of the PdxAg1-x nanoporous nanoalloy catalyst thus prepared exhibit high activity towards H-2 generation with an extremely high selectivity and stability in formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation. The catalytic activity towards H2 generation from FA followed the trend of Pd0.5Ag0.5 > Pd0.6Ag0.4 > Pd0.67Ag0.33 > Pd0.75Ag0.25 approximate to Pd. Rate of FA decomposition closely follow the first order kinetics. The recycle test results of the Pd0.5Ag0.5 nanocatalyst show no significant decrease in catalytic activity over five cycles. The catalysts can be regenerated by simply rinsing with water followed by drying at room temperature. It is believed that this low cost, selective and efficient CO-free H2 generation system at room temperature will promote its application in different devices like FA driven fuel cells. Copyright (C) 2015, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A simple, surfactant-assisted, room temperature synthetic route based on the coreduction of Ni, Fe and Pd salts by sodium borohydride has been developed for the synthesis of trimetallic NiFePd nanocatalysts. The catalysts were characterised by XRD, FESEM, EDX, TEM, HRTEM, SAED and XPS, and their catalytic activity and selectivity towards hydrogen generation from hydrous hydrazine and sodium borohydride were studied at room temperature. The support-free nanoparticles possessed good dispersion and a small particle size, revealing excellent catalytic performance for the complete decomposition of hydrous hydrazine and hydrolysis of sodium borohydride at room temperature. The recycle test results of the nanocatalyst showed no significant decrease in catalytic activity over five cycles. It is believed that the trimetallic NiFePd catalyst will provide a process for preparing hydrogen gas in situ, i.e. instantly upon the demand of a selected, hydrogen consuming device or process. The results presented here with a high performance catalyst system with a low noble metal content offer a new prospect for an on-board hydrogen production system.

Pd–Cu nanoalloy catalysts of tailor made composition have been synthesized first time at room temperature. The highest electro-catalytic activity towards methanol oxidation is found for the Pd–Cu alloy containing 25atom% of Cu.

In search for cost-effective anode material of direct ethanol fuel cell, nanoparticles of Pd, Cu and PdxCu1-x alloy have been synthesized in absence of any capping agent by one pot reduction and co-reduction of respective metal precursors at room temperature. The spectroscopic and microscopic studies reveal that the particles are loosely agglomerated interconnected spherical shaped nanoalloy with a radius in the range of 17-25 nm. Electrochemical studies of graphite supported synthesized nanoparticles reveal that Pd0.90Cu0.10/C is the best and exhibits synergistic catalytic activity. This electrode shows the highest exchange current density for ethanol oxidation reaction and higher catalytic activity for oxidizing acetaldehyde. A reaction mechanism is also proposed in the study. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rectangular palladium nanoparticles have been synthesized by the reduction of PdCl2 with ethylene glycol (EG) in presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and disodiumtartarate in acid media. Here CTAB and disodium tartarate acts as surfactant and directing agent for selective yield of nanocubes and nanobars. The morphology of Pd nanocrystals can be tuned by varying concentration of EG, CTAB, and disodium tartarate. The powders were characterized by XRD, FESEM, and TEM studies. Reaction intermediate was studied by UV-Vis spectra and characterized by TG-DTA analysis. An equilibrium mechanism is proposed where Na+ plays an important role in the formation of Pd nanopowder.