Self-assembly of Pt nanoparticles on highly graphitized carbon nanotubes as an excellent oxygen-reduction catalyst

Journal Article · Mon Feb 21 23:00:00 EST 2011 · Applied Catalysis. B, Environmental, 102(3-4):372-377

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2010.11.029· OSTI ID:1009745

Zhang, Sheng; Shao, Yuyan; Yin, Geping; Lin, Yuehe

A novel method for the synthesis of high-performance Pt electrocatalysts on graphitized carbon nanotubes (GCNTs) is reported. GCNTs are first noncovalently functionalized with a polyelectrolyte, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). Pt precursors are uniformly distributed on the surface of PDDA-functionalized GCNTs via the electrostatic self-assembly between negatively charged PtCl62- and positively charged functional groups of PDDA and then Pt nanoparticles are in-situ prepared with the ethylene glycol reduction method. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement confirms the successful functionalization of PDDA on GCNTs. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope images reveal that Pt nanoparticles with an average size of ~ 2.7 nm are uniformly dispersed on the PDDA-functionalzied GCNTs. Pt/GCNTs electrocatalyst exhibits two times higher activity towards oxygen reduction reaction than Pt/CNTs because of the higher Pt electrochemical surface area and the higher electrical conductivity of GCNTs. Also, Pt/GCNTs exhibit a higher stability than Pt/CNTs. This enhanced durability can be attributed to the structural integrity and higher graphitization degree of GCNTs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1009745
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-67963
• Journal Information: Applied Catalysis. B, Environmental, 102(3-4):372-377, Journal Name: Applied Catalysis. B, Environmental, 102(3-4):372-377 Journal Issue: 3-4 Vol. 102; ISSN 0926-3373; ISSN ACBEE3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
CARBON
CATALYSTS
Durability
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTROCATALYSTS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPES
ELECTROSTATICS
FUNCTIONALS
Functionalization
GLYCOLS
GRAPHITIZATION
Graphitized carbon nanotubes
NANOTUBES
OXYGEN
Oxygen reduction activity
Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells
STABILITY
SURFACE AREA
SYNTHESIS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY