Synthesis and electrocatalysis of 1-aminopyrene-functionalized carbon nanofiber-supported platinum–ruthenium nanoparticles

By Lin, Zhan; Ji, Liwen; Krause, Wendy E. & Zhang, Xiangwu
Published in Journal of Power Sources NULL 2010

Abstract

Platinum–ruthenium/carbon composite nanofibers were prepared by depositing PtRu nanoparticles directly onto electrospun carbon nanofibers using a polyol processing technique. The morphology and size of PtRu 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 carbon nanofibers. The resulting PtRu/carbon composite nanofibers were characterized by cyclic voltammogram in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.125 M CH3OH + 0.2 M H2SO4 solutions, respectively. The PtRu/carbon composite nanofibers with 1-aminopyrene functionalization have smaller nanoparticles and a more uniform distribution, compared with those pretreated with conventional acids. Moreover, PtRu/1-aminopyrene functionalized carbon nanofibers have high active surface area and improved performance towards the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol.

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