Abstract
In this study, we synthesized cup-stacked carbon nanotubes (CSCNT) supported platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) using liquid phase plasma treatment, and morphology, particle size distribution and supported amount of the PtNPs supported onto the CSCNT were investigated. PtNPs were supported onto the CSCNT surfaces using liquid phase plasma treatment after adsorption of Pt precursor onto the CSCNT surfaces. First, observation of the CSCNT surfaces with field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM) were conducted to examine the morphology of the PtNPs supported onto the CSCNT surfaces. PtNPs were well anchored and uniformly dispersed on the CSCNT surfaces without any dispersion stabilizer due to an exposure of the dangling bonds of graphene sheet which has high chemical reaction field. Moreover, the PtNPs size distribution of the CSCNT supported PtNPs were investigated with FETEM images of the CSCNT surfaces. The average size of PtNPs supported onto the CSCNT surfaces was about 2.2 nm, which was smaller than the PtNPs of conventional electrode catalysts for PEFC (3〜5 nm). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the CSCNT supported PtNPs were performed to investigate the supported amount of Pt of the CSCNT supported PtNPs. The supported amount of Pt was about 14.7 wt%, which was smaller than the PtNPs of conventional electrode catalysts for PEFC (50〜60 wt%).
