Immobilization of platinum nanoparticles on 3,4-diaminobenzoyl- functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube and its electrocatalytic activity

Abstract

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are functionalized at the sp(2) C-H defect sites with 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid by a "direct" Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction in a mild polyphosphoric acid/phosphorous pentoxide medium. Owing to enhanced surface polarity, the resulting 3,4-diaminobenzoyl-functionalized MWCNTs (DAB-MWCNT) are highly dispersible in polar solvents, such as ethanol, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and methanesulfonic acid. The absorption and emission properties of DAB-MWCNT in solution state are qualitatively shown to be sensitive to the pH in the environment. The DAB-MWCNT is used as a stable platform on which to deposit platinum nanoparticles (PNP). The PNP/DAB-MWCNT hybrid displays high electrocatalytic activity with good electrochemical stability for an oxygen reduction reaction under an alkaline condition.