Rapid Synthesis of Pt or Pd/Carbon Nanocomposites Using Microwave Irradiation

Pt or Pd/Vulcan carbon nanocomposites containing metal nanoclusters highly dispersed on the carbon support are formed from precursor/Vulcan carbon composite materials in <1 min of total microwave irradiation. Metal halide salts or organometallic complexes can serve as metal precursors. A palladium−allyl complex affords nanoclusters of interstitial Pd−carbide compositions. Metal nanoclusters are formed with small average sizes and rather narrow particle size distributions, even at metal loadings as high as 20 wt %. The high surface area and electrical conductivity of Vulcan carbon powder is probably responsible for its rapid rate of heating by microwave irradiation. A quick and convenient method for preparing metal/carbon nanocomposites using readily available metal compounds is reported.