Platinum Catalysts Prepared with Functional Carbon Nanotube Defects and Its Improved Catalytic Performance for Methanol Oxidation

Carbon nanotube (CNT) supported Pt nanoparticle catalysts have been prepared by spontaneous reduction of PtCl62- ion as a result of direct redox reactions between PtCl62- and oxygen-containing functional groups at defect sites of CNTs, which were introduced by chemical and electrochemical oxidation treatment of CNTs. The electrocatalytic properties of as-prepared Pt-CNT catalysts for methanol oxidation were investigated by chronopotentiometry and cyclic voltammetry. Compared with Pt catalysts prepared by hydrogen reduction and electrochemical deposition methods, Pt catalysts synthesized by functional CNT defects show excellent antipoisoning ability and long-term cycle stability.