| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45649 | Applied Catalysis B: Environmental | 2015 | 11 Pages |
•We offer evidence of strong interaction between Pt and PCA coated MWCNT.•The electrocatalytic activity is related to pyrenecarboxylic acid content.•Platinum-support interaction provides an extended electrochemical stability.•Proof of carbon nanotube transformation to carbon spheres under potential cycling.
A non-covalent functionalization for multi-walled carbon nanotubes has been used as an alternative to the damaging acid treatment. Platinum nanoparticles with similar particle size distribution have been deposited on the surface modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The interaction between platinum nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid is studied and its electrochemical stability investigated. This study reveals the existence of a platinum-support interaction and leads to three main conclusions. First, the addition of 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid is improving the dispersion of platinum nanoparticles, leading to an improved electrochemical activity towards oxygen reduction reaction. Second, the investigations regarding the electrochemical stability showed that the platinum-support interaction plays an important role in improving the long-term stability by as much as 20%. Third, post-mortem microscopy analysis showed a surprising effect. During the electrochemical stability investigations concerned with carbon corrosion it was found that the multi-walled carbon nanotubes were undergoing severe structural change, transforming finally into carbon spheres.
Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide
