Electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid and formaldehyde on nanoparticle decorated single walled carbon nanotubes

A potent catalyst has been prepared consisting of platinum (Pt), and platinum–palladium (Pt–Pd) nanoparticles supported on purified single-walled carbon nanotubes (Pt/CNT and Pt–Pd/CNT). Electrochemical characteristics of formic acid and formaldehyde oxidation on these catalysts are investigated via cyclic voltammetric analysis in mixed 0.5 M HCOOH (or 0.5 M HCHO) and 0.5 M H2SO4 solutions. The results imply that the Pt–Pd/CNT electrodes exhibit a better activity than the corresponding Pt nanoparticles modified SWCNT electrodes. The modified electrode exhibits significant electrocatalytic activity towards formic acid and formaldehyde oxidation, which may be attributed due to the uniform dispersion of nanoparticles on SWCNTs and the efficacy of Pd species in Pt–Pd system. Such nanoparticles modified CNT electrodes exhibit better catalytic behavior towards formic acid and formaldehyde than the corresponding carbon electrodes, indicating that the system studied in the present work is the more promising system for use in fuel cells.

Graphical abstractTEM images of metal nanoparticles decorated SWCNT obtained by glycerol as reducing agents.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide