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Colloidal Suspensions of Platinum Group Metal Nanoparticles (Pt, Pd, Rh) Synthesized by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma (DBD)
Author(s) -
Sauvageau JeanFrançois,
Turgeon Stéphane,
Chevallier Pascale,
Fortin MarcAndré
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
particle and particle systems characterization
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.877
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-4117
pISSN - 0934-0866
DOI - 10.1002/ppsc.201700365
Subject(s) - dielectric barrier discharge , platinum nanoparticles , rhodium , aqueous solution , platinum , palladium , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , chloride , chemistry , electrode , materials science , catalysis , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , engineering
Atmospheric‐pressure plasmas produced by dielectric barrier discharge can be used to grow nanoparticles from aqueous solutions containing ions from the platinum group metals (PGM: Pt, Pd, and Rh). The technology could also be applied to recover PGM from waste solutions. In plasma electrochemistry, PGM solutions act as a liquid electrode, and a counter electrode located near the surface of the liquid is used to generate the plasma (e.g., hydrogen, argon). The treatment synthesizes nanoparticles within minutes, which can be separated from the treated solutions. In the present study, small concentrations of PGM ions (1 × 10 −3 m ) are recuperated from aqueous solutions containing chloride ions. The efficiency of the process is quantified by elemental analysis, and the size of the colloids, measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Very high recovery yields are found for palladium (>99%), as well as for rhodium (>75%) and for platinum (>51%). Plasma electrochemistry is a very efficient and rapid process to recuperate PGM ions from water solutions (faster than conventional electrowinning) such as industrial waste, acid leach, and related effluents. The very fine and surfactant‐free nanoparticles could find promising applications as industrial and automotive catalysts.