Title: Synthesis and characterisation of palladium nanoparticles for catalytic applications

Authors: F.A. Harraz, S.M. El-Sheikh, R.M. Mohamed, I.A. Ibrahim

Addresses: Advanced Materials Technology Department, Central Metallurgical R&D Institute (CMRDI), P.O. Box 87, Helwan, 11421 Cairo, Egypt. ' Advanced Materials Technology Department, Central Metallurgical R&D Institute (CMRDI), P.O. Box 87, Helwan, 11421 Cairo, Egypt. ' Advanced Materials Technology Department, Central Metallurgical R&D Institute (CMRDI), P.O. Box 87, Helwan, 11421 Cairo, Egypt. ' Advanced Materials Technology Department, Central Metallurgical R&D Institute (CMRDI), P.O. Box 87, Helwan, 11421 Cairo, Egypt

Abstract: We report a simple wet chemical method to synthesise palladium nanoparticles and test their performance as an activator for the electroless copper deposition reaction. A mixture of ethylene glycol and alkaline hydroxide ions is indispensable to initiate and catalyse the chemical reduction of palladium salt. The presence of a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in the solution mixture was also found to be essential and acted as a protective agent to isolate the nanoparticles and prevent the agglomeration. The crystallinity, size and morphology and structural features of the produced nanoparticles are investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The performance of the nanoparticles as a catalyst for electroless deposition of copper on both silicon and epoxy substrates is also presented.

Keywords: Pd nanoparticles; palladium; catalytic application; electroless deposition; wet chemical method; copper deposition; silicon substrates; epoxy substrates; nanotechnology; synthesis; characterisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2009.028770

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2009 Vol.2 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.361-371

Published online: 30 Sep 2009 *

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