One-step synthesis of carbon nanotubes–copper composites for fabricating catalyst supports of methanol electrooxidation

One-step synthesis of carbon nanotubes–copper composites was established by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) of acetylene over Co–Cu–Al mixed metal oxides derived from layered double hydroxides (LDHs). Power X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Raman spectra, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and N2 adsorption–desorption measurements revealed that multi-walled carbon nanotubes were synthesized during cobalt-catalyzed CCVD, and copper nanoparticles were simultaneously in situ formed in CNTs matrix. Electrodes modified with platinum particles supported on as-fabricated CNTs–Cu composites showed much higher electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of methanol than that modified with Pt particles supported on the commercial CNTs. The present study greatly enlarges the practical application of hybrid CNTs-based nanocomposites.