Carbon nanotubes as support of well dispersed platinum nanoparticles via colloidal synthesis.

Pt colloidal nanoparticles were synthesized by simultaneous chemical reduction of metallic salts in presence of poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) as protecting agent. The uniform and highly ordered Pt colloidal nanoparticles were associated to well dispersed particles ranging in particle size distribution around 4.5 ± 1.9 nm. The nanoparticles were deposited onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). MWCNT were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Before the metal impregnation, the MWCNT were treated with HNO3 in reflux. Prepared Pt catalyst were characterized by various physical and electrochemical techniques, that is, X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Raman spectroscopy reveals changes intensity ratio IG′/IG in the samples, after the cleaning process and Pt loading, indicating changes in the crystallinity of the materials. HRTEM showed Pt particles between 6.1 ± 0.9 nm and 6.5 ± 1.5 nm are well dispersed along the carbon nanotubes. XRD patterns show characteristics peaks corresponding to graphite and metallic Pt. The electrochemical properties of the MWCNT supported Pt nanoparticles were investigated by analyzing the response of the nanostructured catalyst for cyclic voltammetry and compared with a commercial material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]