Ionic Liquid aided chemical synthesis of noble metal nanocomposites as efficient nanoelectrocatalysts

Platinum, Palladium and Gold nanocomposite using non-functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNTs) has been prepared in the presence of phosphonium-based ionic liquid (Trihexyl Tetradecyl-phosphonium his (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) amide) TTP(TFMS)(2)A. In this research, the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) in the quaternary phosphonium ionic liquid and MWCNTs without any modification, different noble metal nanocomposites of Pt, Pd and Au are formed. The mixture of MWCNT and IL has already been well-ultrasonicated until the best possible long-term stable dispersion to be formed. Under the similar time durations and similar concentrations of IL, the synthesis has been carefully performed. Working in these conditions leads to platinum-ionic liquid-MWNTs nanocomposite as black viscose powders. The nanostructures of the as-prepared nanopowders was checked with SEM. Using palladium nanocomposites as the modification agent on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE), the electrocatalytic effect of nanocomposites has been electrochemically investigated. Comparing three nanocomposites show that noble metal nanoparticles well supported on the bundles of MWCNTs but palladium NPs particle density is more than platinum NPs and PtNPs particle density is more than gold one. Anyway, the electrocatalytic activity of nanocomposites changes as PdNPs>PtNPs>AuNPs.