Palladium Based Bimetallic Nanocatalysts: Synthesis, Characterization and Hydrogen Fuel Production

Abstract

In this study, Palladium dopped Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO@Pd NPs) were synthesized by an environmentally friendly green synthesis method for hydrogen production experiments. Characterizations of synthesized nanoparticles; UV-vis Spectroscopy to characterize the optical properties, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to determine the morphology and particle size of the particles, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for the analysis of organic groups, and X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD) for the crystal lattice type analysis were used. As a result of the UV-vis Spectroscopy characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles, an absorption peak compatible with metals visible at 422 nm was observed. According to the XRD analysis results, the crystal size observed in the cubic phase was calculated as approximately 4.426 nm. According to the results of the SEM analysis the average particle size of the cubic nanoparticles was seen as 26.2 nm. The catalytic properties of CuO@Pd NPs were determined by the sodium borohydride hydrolysis reaction. As a result of catalyst, substrate, temperature, and reusability experiments, some activation parameters required for a catalytic reaction of nanoparticles were calculated. The activation energy of CuO@Pd NPs was calculated as 37.39 kJ/mol, enthalpy change as 34.84 kJ/mol, and entropy change as -189.8 J/mol.K. TOF, which is an indicator of hydrogen efficiency, was calculated as 1513.4 h-1. Reusability experiments were carried out in 4 cycles and the catalytic activity of CuO@Pd NPs was measured as 70 %. In light of these results, it was seen that nanoparticles provide optimal conditions for a catalytic reaction.