Fabrication of Pd-Ni-P metallic glass nanoparticles and their application as highly durable catalysts in methanol electro-oxidation

We report the chemical fabrication of metallic glass nanoparticles (MG-NPs). Using commercially available Pd, Ni, and P precursors, size-controlled amorphous Pd-Ni-P NPs were obtained by a one-pot solvothermal synthesis procedure. Differential scanning calorimetry identified typical MG properties of the unsupported Pd-Ni-P NPs with a wide supercooling region of 55 K (602-657 K). Notably, the supported MG-NPs showed remarkable catalytic properties in methanol electro-oxidation in an alkaline medium. After 400 cyclic voltammetry cycles, the loss of current density was only 3.5% when Pd-Ni-P NPs on Vulcan XC-72 were used as a catalyst. This catalytic durability is outstanding compared to those of many other Pd- or Pt-based nanocatalysts, including the recently reported precious Pt-Pd nanomaterials. These results indicate the potential use of Pd-based MG-NPs as fuel cell catalysts.