One-step in situ synthesis of NHx-adsorbed rhodium nanocrystals at liquid-liquid interfaces for possible electrocatalytic applications.

Nearly monodisperse rhodium nanoparticles with adsorbed NH(x) were synthesized at the CCl(4)-water interface. The presence of NH(x)-adsorbed species was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. The synthesis of controlled size 2-38 nm rhodium particles was studied as a function of reducing agent concentration by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). HRTEM confirmed the formation of rhodium nanoparticles having fringe spacing consistent with reported Rh (111) planes. The continuity of these films over an area of 1×1 μm was revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies. The electrocatalytic application of these nanostructure Rh-NH(x) thin films for formaldehyde oxidation in 0.5M NaOH was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The Rh nanoparticles formed by the present strategy are expected to be useful for other catalytic applications also.