Synthesis and Electrocatalysis of Carbon Nanofiber-Supported Platinum by 1-AP Functionalization and Polyol Processing Technique

By Lin, Zhan; Ji, Liwen; Woodroof, Mariah D.; Yao, Yingfang; Krause, Wendy & Zhang, Xiangwu
Published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C NULL 2010

Abstract

Pt/carbon composite nanofibers were prepared by depositing Pt nanoparticles directly onto electrospun carbon nanofibers using a polyol processing technique. The morphology and size of Pt nanoparticles were controlled by 1-aminopyrene functionalization. The noncovalent functionalization of carbon nanofibers by 1-aminopyrene is simple and can be carried out at ambient temperature without damaging the integrity and electronic structure of the carbon nanofibers. The resulting Pt/carbon composite nanofibers were characterized by running cyclic voltammograms in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.125 M CH3OH + 0.2 M H2SO4 solutions. Results show that Pt/carbon composite nanofibers with 1-aminopyrene functionalization have Pt nanoparticles with a smaller size and better distribution compared with those treated with conventional acids. Moreover, Pt/1-aminopyrene-functionalized carbon nanofibers possess the properties of high active surface area, improved performance toward the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol, and relatively good long-term stability.

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