Ozone-Mediated Functionalization of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Their Activities for Oxygen Reduction Reaction. Issue 6 (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xia, Hengheng; Zhang, Yexin; Chen, Chunlin; Wu, Wenlin; Yao, Ken; Zhang, Jian
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials science & technology. Volume 32:Issue 6(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 533
• Page End: 538
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes -- Ozone oxidation -- Functionalization -- Oxygen reduction reaction; Metals -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials science; Metals; Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2016.01.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1005-0302

Abstract

Abstract : The functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by ozone treatment has been systematically investigated by using Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), organic elemental analysis (OEA) and Boehm titration. The results showed that the functionalization process occurred at defective sites (opened mouths, tube caps, debris, etc . ) before opening caps and truncating walls, and finally the graphitic structure was deteriorated. The surface oxygen content first increased with the treatment time but kept at around 8.0 wt% after 5 h. The analysis of the distribution of oxygen-containing groups revealed that phenolic hydroxyl was gradually converted to carboxyl and lactone. The carboxyl was found to play a pivotal role to reduce the over-potentials when we used the functionalized MWCNTs as the catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).