Synthesis of PdM (M = Zn, Cd, ZnCd) Nanosheets with an Unconventional Face-Centered Tetragonal Phase as Highly Efficient Electrocatalysts for Ethanol Oxidation

Recently, crystal-phase engineering has been emerging as a promising strategy to tune the physicochemical properties of noble metal catalysts and further improve their catalytic performance. However, the synthesis of noble metal catalysts with an unconventional crystal phase as well as desired composition and morphology still remains a great challenge. Herein, a series of PdM (M = Zn, Cd, ZnCd) nanosheets (NSs) with thickness less than 5 nm have been synthesized <i>via</i> a facile one-pot wet-chemical method. In particular, different from the conventional face-centered cubic (<i>fcc</i>) phase, PdM NSs possess an unconventional face-centered tetragonal (<i>fct</i>) phase. As a proof-of-concept application, the <i>fct</i> PdZn NSs exhibit significantly enhanced mass activity and stability in ethanol oxidation reaction, compared to the pure Pd NSs and commercial Pd black catalyst.