Electrochemical synthesis of Rh-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles onto a glassy carbon surface

A. L. QUEREJETA; M. C. DEL BARRIO; S. G. GARCÍA

JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY - (Print)

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2016 vol. 778 p. 98 - 102

1572-6657

Rh-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared successfully by sequential electrodeposition on a glassy carbon(GC) substrate using single potentiostatic pulses. The generated particles were characterized by ex-situ atomicforce microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Initially, AFM images evidenced hemispherical-shapedPd crystals distributed preferably over the GC surface defects. Size diversity of the formed depositsindicates a progressive nucleation mechanism with a three-dimensional growth. Subsequent Rhdeposition does not introduce significant morphological changes. Voltammetric results suggested that Rh is depositedover Pd nanocrystals forming a core-shell type structure. XPS analysis confirms that Pd and Rh are presenton the surface, both as metal and as oxide compounds. The relative amount of Rh greater than that of Pd,corroborates that Rh atoms were preferentially at the surface of the bimetallic particles as a shell over the Pdcore. The electrocatalytic effect of the Rh-Pd/CV modified electrode was evaluated qualitatively for the hydrogenevolution reaction.