Synthesis of multiwall carbon nanotubes with a high loading of Pt by a microwave-assisted impregnation method for use in the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

A multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) catalyst with a high loading (40 wt.%) of platinum was syn-thesized by a microwave-assisted improved impregnation method. The catalyst nanoparticles werecharacterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spec-troscopy. Results of physicochemical characterizations reveal that the catalyst is uniformly loaded onthe external surface of the MWCNTs with a relatively narrow particle size distribution (an average of3.9 nm). The electrocatalytic performance of the catalyst toward oxygen reduction was studied by lin-ear sweep voltammetry measurements of a catalyst-coated rotating disk electrode at different rotationrates. The results show that the prepared catalyst has good electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reductionfollowing a four-electron path to produce water molecules. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.