Water-dispersable hybrid Au-Pd nanoparticles as catalysts in ethanol oxidation, aqueous phase Suzuki-Miyaura and Heck reactions

The catalytic activities of water-dispersable Au@Pd core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) and Au-Pd alloy NPs were examined. There is growing interest in Au-Pd hybridized NPs in a supported matrix or non-supported forms as catalysts in various reactions that are not limited to conventional Pd-related reactions. Four different Au@Pd core-shell NPs in this study were prepared at room temperature with help from the emulsion phase surrounding the Au core NPs. Au-Pd alloy NPs were prepared over 90 °C, and underwent phase transfer to aqueous medium for their catalytic use. Au@Pd core-shell NPs show catalytic activity in ethanol oxidation reactions as electrocatalysts, and both core-shell and alloy NPs are good to excellent catalysts in various Suzuki-Miyaura and Heck reactions as heterogeneous catalysts. Specifically, Au@Pd core-shell NPs with sharp branched arms show the highest yield in the reactions tested in this study. A relatively small amount (0.25 mol%) was used throughout the catalytic reactions. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.