Improved carbon nanotube supported Pt nanocatalyts with lyophilization method

The lyophilization method was used to enhance platinum (Pt) nanoparticle distribution on single-walled cabon nanotube (SWCNT). The results indicate that this method is very available to uniformly disperse nanotubes and effectively prevent Pt metal particles from agglomeration. The Platinum nanoparticle size ranging from 2 to 5 nm in diameter and uniformly deposited on SWCNT characterized by both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), instead, Pt/ SWCNT catalysts fabricated by drying method present a lower dispersion degree compared with that by lyophilization method. The as-prepared catalysts have higher electrochemical active surface area and higher ORR activity as compared to that by drying method characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).