The AgcorePdshell bimetallic nanoparticles: simple biological synthesis and characterization

In this work and for the first time, bimetallic Ag–Pd nanoparticles equipped with a core–shell structure were prepared biologically by employing a galvanic displacement reaction in which the added PdCl2 reacts with an Ag nanotemplate containing an adsorbed soaproot (Acanthe phylum bracteatum) extract. Four samples with different Ag/Pd molar ratios of 100:2, 100:5, 100:10 and 100:15 were prepared to synthesize the bimetallic nanoparticles with a core–shell structure. The bimetallic Ag–Pd nanoparticles were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The results from UV–Vis revealed an optimal molar ratio of 100:15 for Ag/Pd, which is appropriate to prepare bimetallic Ag–Pd nanoparticles with the core–shell structure. The results of FTIR and XRD confirmed the pure bimetallic Ag–Pd nanoparticles formation. The images prepared by TEM depicted spherical and uniformly shaped nanoparticles without any agglomeration and a particle size of 15 nm.