Uniform small metal nanoparticles anchored on CeO 2 nanorods driven by electroless chemical deposition

We report a facile electroless chemical deposition (ECD) method to deposit uniform Pd nanoparticles ((2.5 ± 0.6) nm) on CeO 2 nanorods (PdNPs/CeO 2 -ECD) through the interface redox reaction between the reduced CeO 2 and Na 2 PdCl 4 . PdNPs/CeO 2 -ECD exhibits a stronger electronic metal–support interaction (EMSI) evidenced by higher reducibility and stronger anti-sintering capability at high temperatures, compared to that prepared by the conventional impregnation method. Such an EMSI effect of PdNPs/CeO 2 -ECD significantly improves its catalytic activity in CO oxidation. Besides, the chlorine residue-free catalysts through ECD process avoid the deleterious effect of chlorine on CO oxidation. This ECD process can further be extended to deposit various uniform nanoscaled noble metals (Au, Ag, Pt, Ru, Rh, etc.) on CeO 2 , which may deliver their potentials in advanced catalysis. Graphical abstract