Hydrosols of Pd and Pd-H2: Influence of particle nature on the rate of catalytic reduction of hexacyanoferrate(III) ions with hydrogen

•PdNP and Pd-H2NP catalyze reduction of [Fe(CN)6]3 − with H2•In presence of Pd-H2NP, reaction rate was ~ 6-fold higher than that for PdNP.•Pd and Pd-H2 is different in activity of dissociation of molecule H2 into atoms.

Palladium nanoparticles (5.3 ± 1.4 nm) catalyze the reduction of hexacyanoferrate(III) ions with hydrogen in aqueous solution. The reaction rate substantially (approximately 6-fold) increases if the nanoparticles are pre-saturated with hydrogen. The difference between the electronic properties of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated palladium particles determines their activity in dissociation of the hydrogen molecule into atoms.

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