The use of electroless plating deposition to prepare Pd/γ-Al2O3 nanofiber catalyst

Gamma-alumina (γ-Al₂O₃) nanofibres with 30˜1500 nm diameter have been prepared by calcination of anhydrous aluminium chloride/polyvinylpyrrolidone (AlCl₃/PVP) hybrid fibres about 5 h at 900°C which were prepared by electrospinning as precursor. Nano palladium (Pd) particles were deposited by electroless plating deposition (EPD) onto γ-Al₂O₃ nanofibre surfaces to form Pd/γ-Al₂O₃ nanofibre (PANF) catalyst for the first time. The surface morphology and functional group and elemental concentrations of the Pd/γ-Al₂O₃ nanofibre Catalyst were examined by SEM, XRD and XPS. The results showed that nano Pd particles round 70˜150 nm in diameter were uniformly distributed on the γ-Al₂O₃ nanofibre surfaces.