Microemulsion synthesis and electrocatalytic properties of carbon-supported Pd-Co-Au alloy nanoparticles

Carbon-supported Pd and Pd-Co-Au alloy electrocatalysts are prepared by water-in-oil microemulsion technique using water as aqueous phase, non-ionic Triton-X-100 as surfactant, and cyclohexane as oil phase. The materials are characterized using XRD, TEM, and EDX. Face-centered cubic structure of Pd and presence of respective elements with controllable composition is evident from the analysis of XRD and EDX. The role of alloying elements on the redox behavior as well as catalytic activity of Pd is studied by cyclic voltammetry and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical measurements performed by rotating disk electrode voltammetry indicate the good ORR activity of Pd-Co-Au/C compared to Pd/C. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.