Pd@Zn core–shell nanoparticles of controllable shell thickness for catalytic methanol production

It is reported that well-dispersed core–shell Pd@Zn nanoparticles of controllable shell thickness can be synthesized from a Pd/CdSe–ZnO precursor in H2 without using a surfactant: the Pd ensembles on the material surface with electronic modulation by Zn atoms give a methanol turnover frequency (TOF) and selectivity of 3.3 × 10−1 s−1 and 80%, respectively, the yield of which is 2-fold the best reported value over other Pd-based catalysts.