One-pot synthesis of Pt/carbon nanotubes by self-regulated reduction for electrocatalysis.
This paper describes a method for size-controlled synthesis of Pt nanoparticles and their attachment to the sidewalls of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by self-regulated reduction of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate (SDS), without surface pretreatment. The size of the Pt nanoparticles is controlled by adjusting the concentration of SDS. When Pt/CNTs are heated to 500 degrees C in N2 atmosphere, Pt nanochains are formed on the CNTs; some of these nanochains contain small islands. Electrochemical measurements confirm that the electroactivities of the Pt/CNT nanocatalysts increase with a decrease in the size of the Pt nanoparticles. Additionally, comparing with the heated Pt/CNT nanocatalysts containing smooth Pt nanochains, the heated Pt/CNT nanocatalysts containing Pt nanochains with small Pt islands show higher electrocatalysis activities and stability.
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Applied Science, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Chien-Liang
CL
Lee
Shi-Chi
SC
Wu