Highly dispersed Ag nanoparticles on modified carbon nanotubes for low-temperature CO oxidation

This study used a simple and easy method to prepare a highly dispersed Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on modified carbon nanotubes (MCNTs). The Ag NPs were easily attached to the MCNT support by anchoring them to the functional groups. Oxygen functionalities on the HNO3-activated MCNT wall (FCNTs) provide nucleation centers for metal ions and can stabilize metal NPs on the support surface. This is an essential process for obtaining highly dispersed Ag NPs on FCNTs due to the presence of surface oxygen-containing functional groups. In addition, an Ag NP active site with a smaller particle size and higher dispersion rate exhibits higher activity for CO oxidation at low reaction temperatures. The catalytic results suggest that the Ag/FCNTs catalysts have a high potential for application in low-temperature CO oxidation.

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► A simple and easy method has been used to deposit highly dispersed Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on CNTs through functionalized of the carbon nanotubes (FCNTs).
► This is an important process for obtaining a highly dispersed Ag NPs on the FCNTs due to the presence of the surface oxygen-containing functional groups.
► The Ag NPs and their dispersion can enhance the efficiency of the CO oxidation reaction.
► These results imply that the Ag/FCNTs composites have a potential application in CO oxidation reaction at lower temperature.