The effect of functionalized multi-walled carbon nano-tubes(MWNT) as support for platinum catalyst on oxygen reduction reaction

• Main Author: Tay, Hong Da.
• Other Authors: Wang Xin (SCBE)
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering::Biotechnological production
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/38901
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT), which act as a support for Pt catalysts, were chemically functionalized with in situ generation of diazonium ions from 4 different types of anilines prior to Pt deposition. The carbon nanotube-supported Pt (Pt/MWNT) nanocomposites were then prepared by reduction of Pt ions from hexachloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6) in ethylene glycol solution. Acting as a control for comparison is MWNT that only underwent conventional surface oxidation. The method of in situ generation of diazonium ions to functionalize MWNTs was found to be successful based on B-E-T (BET) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) analysis, since the functionalized MWNTs exhibited similarity in pore size distribution and degradation temperature, and was in contrast to MWNT that underwent surface oxidation. Different treatment of the MWNT-supports led to a difference in electrocatalytic activity of the Pt catalyst in ORR. MWNTs that went through surface oxidization produced 1.5% H2O2, while those functionalized with 4-amino-benzamide, 4-amino-benzoic acid and 4-aminobenzylamine produced 2.85%, 4.40% and 9.60% respectively. This was probably due to the difference in property of the respective anilines, and also the difference in Pt.