Field assisted synthesis of Pt and Pd decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube. (12th February 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Krishna Kumar, M.; Ramaprabhu, S.
• Is Part Of: International journal of nanomanufacturing. Volume 2:Number 5(2008)
• Page Start: 496
• Page End: 506
• Publication Date: 2009-02-12
• Subjects: CNTs -- carbon nanotubes -- MWNT -- multi walled carbon nanotubes -- functionalisation -- electric fields -- nanocrystalline platinum -- nanocrystalline lead -- nanotechnology -- nanomanufacturing; Nanostructured materials industry -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-9392

Abstract

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWNT) have been activated by the application of electric field during the decoration of nanocrystalline Pt or Pd. This procedure results in enhanced ease in the decoration of Pt/Pd onto these MWNT. MWNT have been synthesised by Catalytic Chemical Vapour Deposition (CCVD) of acetylene using a novel fixed-bed catalytic reactor over hydrogen decrepitated Rare Earth (RE) based AB2 alloy hydride catalyst. Purified and chemically treated MWNT have been decorated with Pt/Pd using electric field resulting in dispersion of nanocrystalline Pt/Pd on the surface of MWNT. Structural, morphological and elemental analysis of Pt/Pd-MWNT have been carried out using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). The presence of hydroxyl and carboxylic acid functional groups on the surface of MWNT and the increased hydrophilic nature of chemically treated MWNT on the dispersion of Pt/Pd has been discussed. The electric field assisted deposition allows the dispersion of nanocrystalline Pt/Pd with improved selectivity on Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and reduced metal deposition in the reaction solution.