Fabrication of palladium/platinum core-shell nanoparticles by electroless metal plating

An electroless metal plating method was used to form metallic platinum (Pt) shells on metallic palladium (Pd) nanoparticles. The electroless metal plating method comprised two steps: (1) reduction of Pd ions to fabricate Pd nanoparticles and (2) deposition of Pt nuclei and the following formation of Pt shells by immersing the Pd nanoparticles in a Pt-plating solution. TEM observation revealed that the nanoparticles had a size of 5.7±1.9 nm, were composed of Pd nanoparticles as core and Pt shells. The Pd/Pt core-shell nanoparticles were immobilized electrostatically on carbon support surface-modified with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (Pd/Pt/C). Cyclic voltammetry revealed that the Pd/Pt/C exerted hydrogen adsorption/desorption, expecting the Pd/Pt/C to function as catalyst for fuel cell.