Au-Pd and Au-Pt NPs and Alloys for Catalytic and Electrocatalytic Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) have received considerable attention for their unique optical, magnetic, electrical and catalytic properties, which are very different from those of their monometallic NP components and which are dependent on their morphology and composition. Gold is very useful as an alloying metal due to its relatively low reactivity and it has been successfully used in conjunction with metals, such as palladium and platinum, as a catalyst and electrocatalyst. Au-Pd and Au-Pt bimetallic systems are attractive systems in low temperature CO and VOCs oxidation, PROX reaction, N₂O decomposition, vinyl acetate monomer synthesis, hydrodechlorination of CClF₂, hydrogenation of hydrocarbon, cyclotrimerization of acetylene, direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide and so forth. Moreover, Au-Pd and Au-Pt have shown enhanced electrocatalytic activity in oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) and as well in the electroxidation of methanol and reduction of 2-nitrophenol.

The structure of bimetallic combinations depends mainly on the preparation conditions and miscibility of the two components and therefore on the Au/Pd or Au/Pt ratio. Au–Pd and Au–Pt have been reported to exhibit a core–shell structure or an alloy phase depending on the preparation method. Proper characterization techniques, such as FT-IR, Raman, HR-TEM, XRD, XPS along with density functional theory (DFT)-based mechanistic studies, may elucidate whether the Au and Pd/Pt components are chemically segregated or intimately alloyed in the synthesized NPs, providing a fundamental understanding of their reactivity.

Based on the wide range of investigation and application of bimetallic Au-Pd and Au-Pt NPs, the present Special Issue aims to cover recent research progress, both theoretical and experimental, in the field of Au-Pd and Au-Pt alloys.

We invite you to submit your research in the form of original research papers, mini-reviews and perspective articles.

Dr. Leonarda Francesca Liotta
Prof. Dr. Tatyana Tabakova
Guest Editors

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