Decoration of atomic PdxAuy (1 ≤ x + y ≤ 4) clusters on polyaniline in electrochemical sensing of 1-propanol.

Atomic Pd x Au y (1 ≤ x + y ≤ 4) clusters are decorated on polyaniline to be used as the catalytic electrode in electrochemical sensors. The current responses in the oxidation of 1-propanol are used to reveal the catalytic activity. Effects of the size, decoration sequence, and composition of the atomic metal clusters decorated on the PANI on the catalytic activity are evaluated. Regarding the size, an odd-even size effect is observed in the atomic pure metal clusters, which the even-numbered pure metal clusters show a higher catalytic activity than the odd-numbered pure metal clusters. For the decoration sequence, the catalytic activity is high when the same metal is decorated in the first two cycles of the cyclic atomic electrodeposition process. For the composition effect, the atomic metal clusters show a high catalytic activity in the oxidation, in the region of second oxidation peak, when there are more Au in the atomic metal clusters. [Display omitted] • Atomic Pd x Au y (1 < x + y < 4) clusters are decorated on PANI toward 1-propanol oxidation. • Atomic pure Pd and Au clusters both show the odd-even effect. • Effects of the decoration sequence and composition are studied. • Decorating the same metal in the first 2 cycles result a better catalytic activity. • Clusters of more Pd show a low catalytic activity in the second oxidation peak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]