EXAFS and XANES structural characterization of bimetallic AuPd vapor derived catalysts

Using an innovative procedure known as metal vapor synthesis (MVS) to prepare bimetallic catalysts, starting from Au and Pd vapors, [AuPd] co-evaporated and [Au][Pd] separately evaporated bimetallic catalysts were achieved. After being tested, the catalytic activity and selectivity of the [AuPd] catalyst turned out to be higher than the [Au][Pd] ones. Using EXAFS spectroscopy it was shown that, in the [AuPd] samples, small bimetallic AuPd nanoparticles were present, having an Au rich core surrounded by an AuPd alloyed shell while in the [Au][Pd] sample there was the presence of monometallic Au and Pd nanoparticles showing some alloying only in the boundary regions. The EXAFS results were also qualitatively confirmed by the XANES spectra.