Synthesis and characterization of Cu-Pt/MWCNTs for use in electrocatalytic applications

Improving catalyst performance by studying the preparation parameters, material structures and analysis methods is important work for catalyst researchers. In this study, Cu-Pt nanocomposites with different metal ratios were synthesized on MWCNTs using a polyol method. The structures and morphologies of the nano hybrid catalysts were analyzed by XRD and TEM. The XRD results indicate that Pt and Cu formed a bimetallic solid solution. The average diameters of the Pt and Cu-Pt nanoparticles on MWCNTs were between 3-10 nm and 5-15 nm, respectively. The electrocatalytic behavior of methanol oxidation reactions was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Cu(20%)/[Pt/MWCNTs(1:4)], which contained an optimal degree of solid solution, enhanced the methanol oxidation to the greatest degree. (C) 2011 Chinese Society of Particuology and Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.