Highly dense and uniformly dispersed platinum nanoparticles on poly(acrylic acid) modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes for methanol oxidation

Poly(acrylic acid) modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PAA-MWNTs) were synthesized through in situ radical polymerization in acetone and the PAA-MWNTs were used as supporting material for platinum nanoparticles. Platinum nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of PAA-MWNTs with high loading and high dispersion through ethylene glycol reduction. The size of Pt nanoparticles on PAA-MWNTs can be tuned by the water content in the reaction system and the loading amount can be adjusted by the mass ratio of H2PtCl6 to PAA-MWNTs. The electrocatalytic properties of the Pt/PAA-MWNTs catalyst were evaluated by methanol oxidation. The results of cyclic voltammetry show that the Pt/PAA-MWNTs composite possesses high electrocatalytic activity, good long-term stability and storage property, which can be attributed to the small particle size and high dispersion of Pt nanoparticles as well as the nature of MWNTs.

Pt/PAA-MWNTs composites with high loading and uniform dispersion of Pt nanoparticles were prepared using poly(acrylic acid) modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PAA-MWNTs) as the supporting material, which display high electrocatalytic activity and good long-term stability and storage properties for methanol oxidation.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights
► We prepared poly(acrylic acid) modified MWNTs (PAA-MWNTs) through in situ radical polymerization.
► Pt nanoparticles were deposited on PAA-MWNTs with high loading and high dispersion.
► The size of Pt nanoparticles on PAA-MWNTs can be tuned by the water content in the reaction system.
► The prepared Pt/PAA-MWNTs exhibit good electrocatalytic performance on methanol oxidation.