PtRu Nanoparticles Supported on 1-Aminopyrene-Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Their Electrocatalytic Activity for Methanol Oxidation

Abstract

A new synthesis method for the preparation of high-performance PtRu electrocatalysts on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is reported. In this method, bimetallic PtRu electrocatalysts are deposited onto 1-aminopyrene (1-AP)-functionalized MWCNTs by a microwave-assisted polyol process. The noncovalent functionalization of MWCNTs by 1-AP is simple and can be carried out at room temperature without the use of expensive chemicals or corrosive acids, thus preserving the integrity and the electronic structure of MWCNTs. PtRu electrocatalysts on 1-AP-functionalized MWCNTs show much better distribution with no formation of aggregates, higher electrochemically active surface area, and higher electrocatalytic activity for the electrooxidation of methanol in direct methanol fuel cells as compared to that on conventional acid-treated MWCNTs and carbon black supported PtRu electrocatalysts. PtRu electrocatalysts on 1-AP-functionalized MWCNTs also show significantly enhanced stability.

Enhancement of Activity of PtRu Nanoparticles Towards Oxidation of Ethanol by Supporting on Poly(diallyldimethylammonium)-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes and Modification with Phosphomolybdate

“…It was demonstrated before that PDDAMWCNTs could serve as a very useful support for synthesis of platinum and also palladium sheets [32]. Also, bimetallic PtRu nanoparticles were synthesized using similar method but instead PDDA 1-aminopyrene was used [17]. In the present work, we adapted the approach mentioned above to fabricate the PtRu alloyed nanoparticles on PDDA functionalized MWCNTs.…”

“…Recent studies clearly show that application of carbon nanotubes as carriers may result even in higher electrocatalytic activities in comparison to conventional carbon nanoparticles. But, to achieve this goal, graphene surfaces of carbon nanotubes need to be chemically modified or functionalized [17]. Properly functionalized MWCNTs not only assure physical separation and large dispersion of reactive sites at the catalytic interface but they also act as rigid templates for well-shaped and uniformly sized noble metal nanoparticles [17].…”

“…In particular, it was reported that modification of PtSn or PtRu catalytic nanoaprticles with ultra-thin layers of PMo 12 led to the enhancement of their activities during oxidation of ethanol [23]. To fabricate novel multifunctional composite catalytic nanostructures material with even more pronounced electrocatalytic properties towards electrooxidation of ethanol, we combine here advantages coming from the modification of Ptbased nanoparticles with polyoxometallates [24][25][26] with a unique concept of the synthesis of nanoparticles on the polymer-functionalized MWCNTs [17]. Our electrochemical studies are supported with transmission electron microscopic investigations and high resolution XPS measurements.…”

Difference in the cooperative interaction between carbon nanotubes and Ru particles loaded on their internal/external surface

“…CNTs have unique properties, such as large surface area, high thermal stability, excellent electrical conductivity and well-defined structure with inner hollow cavities and high aspect ratio, which make them extremely attractive in many potential fields, such as energy storage, electronics and catalysis. [2][3][4] After their decoration with suitable transition metals (Pt, Pd, Ru, Ag, Ni, Au, et al ), CNTs have been found to be active as heterogeneous catalysts in hydrocarbon processing [5][6][7] and electrode reactions of fuel cells, 8 to show a high hydrogen storage capacity, 9 and to be very sensitive in optical and electronic applications as chemical sensors. 4 An understanding of the cooperative interaction between CNTs and the loaded metal particles may provide means to enhance their performance in various applications.…”

Biomass-derived activated carbon as high-performance non-precious electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction

“…The I D /I G ratio of Fe-CEW is 1.07, closed to the value of XC-72 but smaller than that of CEW (1.14), indicating that (i) the Fe-CEW exhibits less defects sites than the CEW, which may be caused from the original defect sites that is covered by the doped Fe atoms, as reported in literature for the 1-aminopyrene-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes; 25 (ii) the Fe-CEW possesses much better electric conductivity compared to CEW, which means a higher current density and excellent performance for ORR. 26 Fig. S4, ESI3 displays TGA and DTG profiles of the decomposition process of EW and Fe doped egg white (Fe-EW), from which we can obtain information on residual masses at different temperatures.…”