Controllable deposition of Ag nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes as a catalyst for hydrazine oxidation

A simple method is devised to deposit highly monodispersed Ag nanoparticles (about 5 nm) on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which started from an initial modification of Ag nanoparticles with benzyl mercaptan molecules. By simply tuning the relative ratio of Ag catalyst to CNTs in solution, Ag/CNT composite with different Ag content can be achieved. The as-prepared Ag/CNT composite materials showed high electrocatalytic activity towards hydrazine oxidation, which was ascribed to the high dispersion of Ag nanoparticles on CNT surface. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.