A systematic study of carbon nanotube functionalization and purification on catalytic activity and
surface properties
R. Puskas1, A. Kukovecz1,2, Z. Konya1,3
1 Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged
2 MTA-SZTE "Lendület" Porous Nanocomposites Research Group, Szeged
3 MTA-SZTE Reaction Kinetics and Surface Chemistry Research Group, Szeged
Catalytic performance tests were performed on a series of oxidatively functionalized
carbon nanotube supported palladium catalysts. Previous studies have shown the dependence of
metal nanoparticle size on the amount of surface functional groups and other types of surface
defects. Catalytic performance was also found to be dependent on functionalization.
This study aims to clarify the connection between the difference in catalytic performance
and carbon nanotube functionalization by studying the changes in surface properties of carbon
nanotubes oxidized for different amounts of time. It is achieved by preparing different sets of
sample series which were washed with acetone in a Soxhlet extractor at different stages of the
sample preparation. This makes it possible to examine the effect of pure surfaces, as the
functionalization process leaves high amount of impurities that seem to have tremendous effects
on particle size and adsorption properties. Mixed gas adsorption studies were thus performed on
all samples to ascertain possible surface competition effects of reactant and product gases used
during catalytic performance tests.
Acknowledgement:
This research was realized in the frames of TÁMOP 4.2.4. A/2-11-1-2012-0001 „National
Excellence Program – Elaborating and operating an inland student and researcher personal
support system convergence program” The project was subsidized by the European Union and
co-financed by the European Social Fund.
The financial support of TÁMOP-4.2.2.A-11/1/KONV-2012-0047 and OTKA NN
110676 is also acknowledged.