Electrochemical Fabrication of Pd-Ag Alloy Nanowire Arrays in Anodic Alumina Oxide Template

The synthesis of Pd-Ag alloy nanowires in nanopores of porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template by electrochemical deposition technique was reported.Pd-Ag alloy nanowires with 16%-25% Ag content are expected to serve as candidates of useful nanomaterials for the hydrogen sensors.Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersed X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were employed to characterize the morphologies and compositions of the Pd-Ag nanowires.X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the phase properties of the Pd-Ag nanowires.Pd-Ag alloy nanowire arrays with 17.28%-23.76% Ag content have been successfully fabricated by applying potentials ranging from -0.8 to -1.0 V (vs SCE).The sizes of the alloy nanowires are in agreement with the diameter of AAO nanopores.The underpotential deposition of Ag on Pd and Au plays an important role in producing an exceptionally high Ag content in the alloy.Alloy compositions can still be controlled by adjusting the ion concentration ratio of Pd2 and Ag and the electrodeposition processes.XRD shows that nanowires obtained are in the form of alloy of Pd and Ag.