Electrochemical studies of water-soluble palladium nanoparticles

Aqueous-soluble monolayer-protected palladium nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrogen reduction of Pd(II) in a water solution. The particles were then further functionalized by incorporating multiple copies of mercapto derivatives of viologen into the particle protecting monolayers. The electrochemistry of the viologen moieties with the particles dissolved in solution or immobilized onto electrode surfaces was carefully studied using various electrochemical techniques. The particle molecular capacitance was evaluated by rotating-disk-electrode voltammetry and the electron-transfer rate constant of the particle-bound viologen moieties was estimated by impedance measurements.