The Effect of the Pd Precursors on the Shape of Hollow Ag–Pd Alloy Nanoparticles Using Ag Nanocubes as Seeds

[Image: see text] Hollow Ag–Pd nanoparticles have potentially high catalytic performance owing to their larger surface area compared to their corresponding solid nanoparticles. We successfully fabricated hollow Ag–Pd alloy nanodendrites and nanoboxes by using different Pd precursors (H(2)PdCl(4) and Pd(acac)(2)) to achieve large surface area nanoboxes. Interestingly, the use of a H(2)PdCl(4) precursor led to the formation of hollow nanodendrite structures, whereas the slower reduction of Pd(acac)(2) led to the formation of hollow nanoboxes. The microstructure and chemical composition of Ag–Pd nanoparticles and properties of their growth solutions were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy.