Fly ash supported Pd-Ag bimetallic nanoparticles exhibiting a synergistic catalytic effect for the reduction of nitrophenol.

Coal fly ash (FA) supported Pd-Ag bimetallic nanoparticles (FA-Pd-Ag) were prepared by reducing Pd(II) and Ag(I) salts together onto the dispersed solid support in aqueous medium. Electron microscope analysis (FE-SEM, HRTEM) in combination with elemental mapping (EDS) suggests that the nanoparticles are well dispersed on fly ash with an average diameter of 6-8 nm. The powder XRD analysis indicates that alloying of the interface occurs between Pd and Ag nanoparticles in FA-Pd-Ag, while XPS reveals that charge transfer takes place between the Pd and Ag moieties that come into contact with each other.