EPR characterisation of platinum nanoparticle functionalised carbon

The use of nanostructured carbon materials as electrodes for energy storage and conversion is an

expanding area of research in recent years. Herein, platinum nanoparticles have been deposited

onto both multi-walled and single-walled carbon nanotubes via a microwave assisted polyol

reduction method. This interaction has been probed with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)

and Raman spectroscopies to elucidate the charge/electron transfer interactions between the Pt

nanoparticles and the CNTs. Observed shifts in the g factors of the CNTs are indicative of such

an electronic interaction, strongly suggesting the covalent attachment of the nanoparticles with

the carboxylic groups on the CNTs, formed during the microwave-assisted reduction process. The

Pt decorated CNTs show a dramatic increase in electrochemical behaviour in terms of high

reversible capacity and relatively stable cycle performance compared to unmodified CNTs

increasing their applicability in energy storage devices. For instance, significant increases in the

electrochemical double layer capacitance are observed for the CNT–NP composite electrode

(80% for SWNTs and 50% for MWNT).