Size effect studies in catalysis: a simple surfactant-free synthesis of sub 3 nm Pd nanocatalysts supported on carbon.

Supported Pd nanoparticles are prepared under ambient conditions via a surfactant-free synthesis. Pd(NO 3 ) 2 is reduced in the presence of a carbon support in alkaline methanol to obtain sub 3 nm nanoparticles. The preparation method is relevant to the study of size effects in catalytic reactions like ethanol electro-oxidation.