Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured bimetallic films on α-Al2O3 substrates using electroless deposition

The Pt-Pd and Pd-Ag nanostructured bimetallic films on porous α-Al2O3 substrates are successfully synthesized by chemical deposition using lyotropic liquid crystalline templating strategy. The co-reduction of two metallic species in the presence of liquid crystalline phase by hydrazine hydrate produces hexagonal nanostructured Pt-Pd and lamellar nanostructured Pd-Ag films. Low-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies show the ordered nanostructure of both Pt-Pd and Pd-Ag films. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and wide-angle XRD analyses of the bimetallic films have verified the coexistence and uniform distribution of constituent metallic species. By taking into account of catalytic activities, well-defined nanochannels and higher surface areas, the nanostructured bimetallic films might have application potential in microreactors.