Facile synthesis of Pd nanochains with enhanced electrocatalytic performance for formic acid oxidation

•Well-defined Pd nanochains were quickly synthesized by a simple one-pot wet-chemical reduction method.•OP-10 is used as a growth directing agent for the formation of the Pd nanochains.•The Pd nanochains displayed the enhanced electrocatalytic performance for formic acid oxidation in acidic media.

In this report, a simple and rapid method was developed for the large-scaled synthesis of well-defined Pd nanochains based on one-pot wet-chemical reduction of PdCl2 with KBH4, with the assistance of octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (OP-10) as a growth directing agent. The concentration of OP-10, the strength of a reducing agent and its amount, and the reaction temperature were demonstrated essential for preparation of the Pd nanocrystals. Furthermore, the as-prepared Pd nanochains exhibited a higher electrochemically active surface area and the enhanced electrocatalytic performance for formic acid oxidation in acid media, compared with the Pd nanoparticles.

Graphical abstractWell-defined Pd nanochains were rapidly prepared by a simple wet-chemical method using octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (OP-10) as a growth directing agent. The as-prepared Pd nanochains displayed the enhanced electrocatalytic performance for formic acid oxidation in acid media.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide