Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on Pt modified single-walled carbon nanotubes

Platinum nanoparticles on modified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) were investigated by a completely new electrochemical method. A Pt(IV) complex was formed on the SWNT surface through coordination to the oxygen atom of an oxide functional group on the SWNT surface and then converted to platinum nanoparticles by a potential pulse method. The structure and chemical nature of Pt nanoparticles on SWNTs have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, the mean diameter of Pt nanoparticles was 5–8 nm. The electrocatalytic properties of the Pt/SWNT electrode for methanol oxidation and its kinetic characterization were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and excellent electrocatalytic activity was observed.