Synthesis of palladium nanoparticles utilizing biotemplates and investigation of their synergistic catalytic performance

Palladium nanoparticles can act as a shuttle to accelerate the extracellular electron transfer (EET) by exoelectrogens. Through the EET process, microorganisms drive the redox cycle of many substances. The palladium nanoparticle has a variety of catalytic activities and activities can be significantly improved by combining with the active effects of microorganisms.In this study, Staphylococcus saprophyticus JJ‐1 was utilized as a biological template carrier to synthesize palladium nanoparticles that were immobilized on the bacterial surface. The morphology and composition of palladium were characterized by various techniques including transmission electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the hydrogenation activity of the synthesized Pd was tested at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using methyl orange as a model pollutant. Electrochemical characterization was carried out by cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic measurements. The research demonstrated that palladium nanoparticles acted as both electronic mediators and catalysts in the dye reduction process, while S. saprophyticus JJ‐1 contributed to stabilizing nanoparticles and electrochemical activity. The synergistic effect between these two components significantly enhances MO degradation efficiency.This study presented an energy‐saving method to synthesize an integrated catalyst based on the synergistic interaction between biomass and nanoparticles, offering a novel approach for developing environmentally friendly, cost‐effective, and efficient integrated catalysts. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).