High-temperature-treated multiwall carbon nanotubes for hydrogen evolution reaction. (29th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nguyen, Tri Khoa; Bannov, Alexander G.; Popov, Maxim V.; Yun, Jong-Won; Nguyen, Anh Duc; Kim, Yong Soo
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 43:Number 13(2018)
• Page Start: 6526
• Page End: 6531
• Publication Date: 2018-03-29
• Subjects: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes -- Heat treatment -- Hydrogen evolution reaction -- Electrocatalysis; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.02.081
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: We investigated the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) properties of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) treated at extremely high temperature (2600 °C). The heat treatment not only improves the crystallinity of the MWCNTs, but also reduces the carbon-oxygen (CO) bonding as it is replaced by the defect-carbon ( sp 3 and CH) bonding. These modifications in the heat treated MWCNT structure lead to the increase of electrochemical charge transfer. The heat treatment of MWCNTs in the composite with Pt (MWCNT-Pt composite) further facilitates electrocatalysis. The MWCNTs-Pt composite shows strong enhancement in the HER performance with an onset of overpotential of −0.04 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode and a Tafel slope of 10.9 mV/decade. This performance is indeed better than that of Pt, which is the best working material for HER. Highlights: Heat treatment effects to reorder nanotube structures by connecting the broken crystals. CO bonding density is reduced and porosity properties are increased after heat treatment. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance is enhanced after heat treatment. Charge transfer resistance in HER is strongly decreased after heat treatment. Heat-treated MWCNT-Pt composite yields the excellent HER properties.