Synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts using microwave irradiation

1. A method of making a bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a reaction vessel;

adding a reaction mixture comprising a first solution of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and a suitable reducing agent in a first solvent to the reaction vessel;

heating the reaction mixture using a microwave;

adding a first metal precursor solution comprising a first metal-precursor-complex comprising Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt, Ni, Ag, or Au to the reaction mixture;

adding a second metal precursor solution comprising a second metal-precursor-complex comprising Ru, Co, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, or a combination thereof to the reaction mixture;

wherein the first metal-precursor-complex and the second metal-precursor-complex are provided at a bimetallic ratio of between 1:99 and 99:1;

forming a bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle comprising a first metal and a second metal, the first metal being that of the first metal-precursor-complex and the second metal being that of the second metal-precursor complex, the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle having a random distribution of the first metal and the second metal at the bimetallic ratio therein; and

purifying the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle has a bimetallic ratio of about 1:1; 1:2; 1:3; 2:1; or 3:1.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle comprises a Rh:Pd bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Rh:Pt bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Rh:Ag bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Rh:Au bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Rh:Ru bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Rh:Co bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Rh:Ir bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Rh:Ni bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Ir:Pd bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Ir:Pt bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Ir:Ag bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Ir:Au bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Pd:Ni bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Pd:Pt bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Pd:Ag bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Pd:Au bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Pt:Ni bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; Pt:Ag bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Pt:Au bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Ni:Ag bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Ni:Au bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; a Ag:Au bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle; or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle is a Rh:Au bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle with a bimetallic ratio of about 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:1, or 3:1; a Rh:Ag bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle with a bimetallic ratio of about 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:1, or 3:1; a Rh:Pd bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle with a bimetallic ratio of about 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:1, or 3:1; or a Rh:Pt bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle with a bimetallic ratio of about 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:1, or 3:1.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle is a Rh:Au bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle with a bimetallic ratio of about 70:30; 64:36; 45:54; 23:77; or 15:85.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle is a Rh:Ag bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle with a bimetallic ratio of about 70:30; 60:40; 51:49; 27:73; 23:77; 17:83; or 45:54.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle is a Rh:Pd bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle with a bimetallic ratio of about 1:3, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1; or wherein the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle is a Rh:Pt bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle with a bimetallic ratio of about 1:3, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of forming a bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle catalyst by adding a pre-calcined SiO 2 to a suspension comprising a poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-capped metal complex and the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of loading the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle catalyst into a quartz U-tube suspended above a porosity frit.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of sonicating, isolating, washing, and drying the bimetallic randomly alloyed nanoparticle.