Preparation of low-dimensional carbon material-based metal nanocomposites using a polarizable organic/water interface

Abstract

Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and liquid-phase exfoliated multilayer graphene (MLG) material thin films were assembled at a polarizable organic/water interface. A simple, spontaneous route to functionalize/decorate the interfacial assembly of MLG and SWCNTs with noble metal nanoparticles, at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES), is reported. The formation of MLG-or SWCNT-based metal nanocomposites was confirmed using various microscopic (scanning electron, transmission electron, and atomic force microscopy) and several spectroscopic (energy dispersive x-ray and Raman spectroscopy) techniques. Increasing the interfacial deposition time of the metal nanoparticles on the assembled low-dimensional carbon material increased the amount of the metal particles/structures, resulting in greater coverage of the MLG or SWCNTs with metal nanoparticles. This low-cost and convenient solution chemistry based impregnation method can serve as a means to prepare nanoscale carbonaceous material-based metal nanocomposites for their potential exploitation as electro-active materials, e.g., new generation catalysts or electrode materials.

Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis Based on Cu Nanoparticles Deposited on Carbon Nanotubes at the Liquid/Liquid Interface

“…More recently, H 2 evolution reactions (HERs) using molybdenum carbide (Mo 2 C) and molybdenum sulfide (MoS 2 ) catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), GR, or mesoporous carbon have been investigated at organic/water interfaces and the increased HER with supported catalysts has been reported in comparison to the free catalysts . Moreover, noble‐metal Pd nanoparticles have been deposited on the SWCNTs or GR film by using in situ electrodeposition at the organic/water interface . However, there are no reports on the application of electrodeposited metal nanoparticles supported on carbon materials as H 2 evolution catalysts at liquid/liquid interfaces.…”

“…The present data corroborate the work of Toth et al. who studied the deposition of Pd nanoparticles on GR or SWCNTs at polarized liquid/liquid interfaces …”

“…[18,19] Moreover,n oble-metal Pd nanoparticlesh ave been deposited on the SWCNTso rG Rf ilm by using in situ electrodeposition at the organic/water interface. [20] However,t here are no reports on the application of electrodeposited metal nanoparticles supported on carbon materials as H 2 evolutionc atalysts at liquid/liquid interfaces.…”

Electrochemical Investigation of Adsorption of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes at a Liquid/Liquid Interface

“…Aliquots of the dispersion were taken, diluted, and used to determine the extinction coefficient ( α ) by using UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy. The value of α obtained at 660 nm was 39±0.9×10 2 mg −1 mL m −1 and agrees with 41.00 ±0.4×10 2 mg −1 mL m −1 reported previously for CVD‐grown SWCNTs dispersed in DCE . Self‐assembly of the SWCNTs at the water/DCE interface was achieved by following the procedure reported previously in our laboratory .…”

“…It was shown that interfacially assembled SWCNT/graphene layers serve as electron mediators, aiding heterogeneous electron transfer between aqueous and organic redox couples, which remain isolated in their respective phases . This was utilized to functionalize interfacial SWCNT and graphene layers with metal nanoparticles by reducing aqueous metal salts using an organic electron donor, and a conducting polymer poly(pyrrole), through oxidation of the pyrrole monomer dissolved in the organic phase by an aqueous oxidizing agent. Similarly, the electron‐transfer‐mediating properties of pristine liquid‐phase exfoliated graphene at the water/organic interface were found to result in a catalytic effect on the heterogeneous oxygen reduction reaction .…”