Synthesis, characterization, and application of PdPt and PdRh bimetallic nanoparticles encapsulated within amine-terminated poly(amidoamine) dendrimers

PdPt and PdRh bimetallic dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) were first prepared within fourth-generation amine-terminated poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (G4-NH2) by a co-complexation route, which included both co-complexation of bimetallic ions with dendrimers in HCl aqueous solution at pH 3 and subsequent reduction of the bimetallic ions in composite. The dendrimer-encapsulated bimetallic ions and reduction courses were analyzed by UV–vis spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize the two types of bimetallic nanoparticle size, size distribution, and particle morphology. The resulting PdPt and PdRh DENs show promising catalytic activities for the hydrogenation of 1-hexene.