Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Nitrobenzene-Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation Reaction

• Multiwalled carbon nanotube was functionalized with nitrobenzene as a support material for Pt-based electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation.
• The electronic properties of carbon nanotubes were modified by the nitrobenzene functionalization.
• Nitrobenzene-functionalized electrocatalysts revealing the improved electrocatalytic performance of Pt-NB-MWCNT catalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction.

A novel method of molecular covalently functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube using nitrobenzene group is prepared and used as a promising support material of Pt-based electrocatalysts (denoted as Pt-NB-MWCNT) for methanol oxidation reaction. The physical and chemical characteristics are performed by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. Compared with the un-functionalized Pt-MWCNT catalyst, Pt-NB-MWCNTs show more uniform particle dispersion, smaller particle size, improved activity and durability for methanol oxidation reaction. The nitrobenzene group is demonstrated to promote the electrocatalytic activity of Pt-MWCNT for methanol oxidation significantly. The results represent a novel approach to functionalize MWCNT in a simple and economic way to prepare efficient electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation.

Multiwalled carbon nanotube was functionalized with nitrobenzene as a promising support material for Pt-based electrocatalysts (Pt-NB-MWCNT) for methanol oxidation. The as-prepared catalysts have higher electrocatalytic activity in terms of both mass and specific activities, and improved durability for methanol oxidation reaction than as compared to the undoped materials.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide