Microfluidic, One-Batch Synthesis of Pd Nanocrystals on N-Doped Carbon in Surfactant-Free Deep Eutectic Solvents for Formic Acid Electrochemical Oxidation
- 28 August 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Chemical Society (ACS) in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
- Vol. 12 (38), 42704-42710
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c10136
Abstract
One of the grand challenges that impedes practical applications of nanomaterials is the lack of robust manufacturing methods that are scalable, low cost and environmental-friendly. Herein, we address this challenge by developing a microfluidic approach that produces surfactant-free Pd nanocrystals (NCs) uniformly loaded on N-doped porous carbon in a one-batch process. The deep eutectic solvent (DES) prepared from choline chloride and ethylene glycol was employed as a novel synthesis solvent, and its extended hydrogen networks and abundant ionic species effectively stabilize Pd facets and confine nanocrystal sizes without using surfactants. The microreactors provide faster heat exchange and more uniform mass transport, which in combination with DES produced Pd NCs with better-defined shape and predominately exposed Pd (100) facet. Furthermore, we describe that the N-doped functional groups in porous carbon direct dense and uniform heterogeneous growth of Pd NCs in a one-batch process, thereby eliminating a separate catalyst deposition step that is often involved conventional synthesis. The Pd NCs in the one-batch produced Pd/C catalysts exhibited a size distribution of ~ 13 ± 3.5 nm, a high ESCA of 46.0 m2/g and delivered 362 mA/mg for formic acid electrochemical oxidation with improved stability, demonstrating the unique potentials of microfluidic reactors and DES for the controllable and scalable synthesis of electrocatalyst materials for practical applications.Keywords
Funding Information
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2019QYB06)
- Northern Illinois University
- Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (18520743500)
- Argonne National Laboratory (DE-AC02-06CH11357)
This publication has 51 references indexed in Scilit:
- Size-Controlled Flow Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using a Segmented Flow Microfluidic PlatformLangmuir, 2012
- Enhanced electrocatalytic activity of cubic Pd nanoparticles towards the oxygen reduction reaction in acid mediaElectrochemistry Communications, 2011
- One-Step Fabrication of Nanostructured Ni Film with Lotus Effect from Deep Eutectic SolventLangmuir, 2011
- An ambient aqueous synthesis for highly dispersed and active Pd/C catalyst for formic acid electro-oxidationJournal of Power Sources, 2010
- Carbon-supported PdSn nanoparticles as catalysts for formic acid oxidationElectrochemistry Communications, 2009
- Oleylamine-Mediated Synthesis of Pd Nanoparticles for Catalytic Formic Acid OxidationJournal of the American Chemical Society, 2009
- Shape-controlled synthesis of platinum nanocrystals for catalytic and electrocatalytic applicationsNano Today, 2009
- Shape‐Controlled Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles in Deep Eutectic Solvents for Studies of Structure–Functionality Relationships in ElectrocatalysisAngewandte Chemie, 2008
- Continuous Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles in a MicroreactorNano Letters, 2005
- Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles in a Continuous Flow Tubular MicroreactorNano Letters, 2004