Activated hydride reduction of palladium–copper ions in organic media: formation of nanocrystalline Pd–Cu alloy powders

Finely dispersed nanocrystalline PdxCu100−x (0≤x≤100 at.%) powders were obtained after chemical reduction of Pd(II) and Cu(II) metallic salts by activated alkaline hydride (NaH–t-BuONa) in tetrahydrofuran solvent at low temperature. The morphology and structure were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and revealed that this original chemical approach allows preparation of stable, single-phase nanoparticles of alloys with homogeneous distribution of chemical elements. The particle sizes were found in the range of 1–10 nm. Such nanostructured powders crystallize in the face centered cubic structure, and a linear evolution of the lattice parameter with the palladium atomic content was observed.