Electrocatalytic Activity of Bimetallic Pd-Au Particle Films Prepared by Sequential Sputter Deposition of Pd and Au onto Hydroxyl-functionalized Ionic Liquid

Bimetallic Pd-Au nanoparticle films were sputter-deposited on the surface of hydroxyl-functionalized ionic liquid by sequential metal sputtering of Pd and Au. The resulting films having a partially alloyed surface exhibited high electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation, the degree being dependent on both the order of metal sputtering and the chemical composition of resulting bimetallic particles. The optimum catalytic activity was obtained for the bimetallic film with a Au fraction of 41% prepared by sequential sputtering of Pd followed by Au.