Fabrication and characteristics of Pd nanoparticles/nanofilms on ceramics toward catalytic electrodes

We report an approach of fabricating various palladium nanostructures with tailored morphologies in nanoparticles (Ø80–300 nm), nanoporous films (Ø50–200 nm), and integrated nanotubules arrays (Ø300 nm and 5 μm long) on different ceramic materials. Microporous titanate ceramics or nanoporous alumina films were first prepared through a solid-state synthesis or an anodic oxidization of aluminum sheets. The micro- and nanoporous ceramics were then used as supporting materials in an electroless deposition to deposit Pd nanoparticles or nanofilms over the porous substrates, thus leading to various Pd nanostructures with large surface areas and high corrosion resistance for many applications. EDX and EPMA analysis disclosed that the phosphor co-deposition in 5–11 at.% P occurred in the palladium electroless deposition. XRD analysis showed that the as-deposited Pd–P alloys were polycrystalline with a preferential orientation of (1 1 1) facet. The phosphor included in the Pd–P alloy films existed as a solid solution form, rendering as a single phase Pd–P alloy with nanocrystals (∼5 nm across) of cubic palladium.