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Ultrasmall Palladium Nanoclusters as Effective Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Author(s) -
Zhao Shuo,
Zhang Hui,
House Stephen D.,
Jin Renxi,
Yang Judith C.,
Jin Rongchao
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201600053
Subject(s) - nanoclusters , palladium , catalysis , materials science , oxygen , chemistry , photochemistry , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry
The recent prosperity of ultrasmall gold nanoclusters makes it desirable to expand the family of clusters to other metals. Here, we present a one‐phase approach for synthesizing thiolate‐protected palladium nanoclusters with a mass of approximately 5 kDa. Such nanoclusters are further evaluated for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solutions. Ligand‐on palladium nanoclusters exhibit an onset potential of −0.09 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and superior durability in open air. With ligands removed, the palladium nanoclusters display an onset potential of −0.02 V and a higher mass activity (272.4 A g −1 at the potential of −0.15 V) than that of Pt/C (166.6 A g −1 ). Kinetic investigation indicates a direct four‐electron reduction pathway over palladium nanoclusters, which is preferred in oxygen reduction, owing to enhanced power generation. The efficient catalytic performance of palladium nanoclusters makes them an excellent candidate as electrocatalysts in fuel cell technology.