A rapid, convenient and environmentally benign method has been developed for the fabrication of metal nanoparticle?multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites. Nanoparticles of palladium, rhodium and ruthenium are deposited onto functionalized MWCNTs through a simple hydrogen reduction of metal-?-diketone precursors in supercritical carbon dioxide, and are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. These highly dispersed nanoparticles, with a narrow range of size distribution and good adhesion on MWCNT surfaces, are expected to exhibit promising catalytic properties for a variety of chemical reactions. Preliminary experiments demonstrate that Pd nanoparticles supported on MWCNTs are effective catalysts for hydrogenation of olefins in carbon dioxide. The Pd nanoparticle?MWCNT composite also shows a high electrocatalytic activity in oxygen reduction for potential fuel cell application.
Revised: April 20, 2004 |
Published: February 27, 2004
Citation
Ye X., Y. Lin, C.M. Wang, M.H. Engelhard, Y. Wang, and C.M. Wai. 2004.Supercritical Fluid Synthesis and Characterization of Catalytic Metal Nanoparticles on Carbon Nanotubes.Journal of Materials Chemistry 14, no. 5:908-913.PNNL-SA-40131.