Nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes as supports for Pt – Alternate anodes for fuel cell applications

Abstract

Aligned nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes have been synthesized using Anodisc alumina membrane as template. Highly dispersed platinum nanoparticles have been supported on the nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes. Nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes as platinum catalyst supports were characterized by electron microscopic technique and electrochemical analysis. The EDX patterns show the presence of Pt and the micrograph of TEM shows that the Pt particles are uniformly distributed on the surface of the nitrogen containing carbon nanotube with an average particle size of 3 nm. Cyclic voltammetry studies revealed a higher catalytic activity of the nitrogen containing carbon nanotube supported Pt catalysts.