Electrochemical properties of carbon nanotubesupported metallic catalysts prepared by changing a sweep- or step-applied potential

The electrochemical deposition of Pt nanoparticles on carbon nanotube (CNTs) supports and their catalytic activities for an electro-oxidation were investigated. Pt catalysts of 4-12 nm average crystalline size were grown on supports by changing applied potential methods such as sweep-potential or step-potential. Electroplating of 24-min time by a step-applied potential was enough to obtain small crystalline-size 4.6-nm particles, resulting in good electrochemical activity. The catalysts' loading contents could be controlled by increasing the deposition time. The crystalline sizes and structures of the Pt/support catalysts were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrochemical properties of the Pt/support catalysts were studied according to their characteristic current-potential curves in a methanol solution. As a result, the electrochemical activity was increased by enlarging the plating time. The activity reached the maximum at 24 min and then decreased. The enhanced electroactivity for catalysts by step-potential methods could be explained by the changes of the crystalline size and crystalline structures of the catalysts.