Plasma synthesis of Pd nanoparticles decorated-carbon nanotubes and its application in Suzuki reaction

The synthesis of palladium nanoparticles-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Pd-MWNTs) hybrid materials has been realized by a gas-liquid interfacial plasma performed in ionic liquid ([bmim]BF4) mediate. High-density Pd nanoparticles with size below 7 nm are found to uniformly deposit on the surface of MWNTs with high loading ratio up to 33 wt.% by plasma method. The synthesized hybrid materials were systematically examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope and selected-area electron diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and inductive coupled plasma spectroscopy. Importantly, the synthesized Pd-MWNTs are found to exhibit a high catalytic activity, and serve as good recyclability catalyst in Suzuki reaction. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.