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Metallic Impurities within Residual Catalyst Metallic Nanoparticles Are in Some Cases Responsible for “Electrocatalytic” Effect of Carbon Nanotubes
Author(s) -
Pumera Martin,
Iwai Hideo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.200800420
Subject(s) - carbon nanotube , catalysis , impurity , materials science , metal , nanoparticle , carbon fibers , electrocatalyst , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , metallurgy , electrochemistry , chemistry , composite material , electrode , organic chemistry , composite number , engineering
It′s what′s on the inside that counts : In some cases, the metallic impurities within residual catalyst metallic nanoparticle impurities, which remain in carbon nanotubes even after their purification, are responsible for the “electrocatalytic” properties of carbon nanotubes. This is demonstrated by using double‐walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) containing cobalt residual catalyst nanoparticle impurities, which themselves contain iron‐based impurities.We show that in some cases, the metallic impurities within residual catalyst metallic nanoparticle impurities, which remain in carbon nanotubes from their synthesis even after purification, are responsible for “electrocatalytic” properties of carbon nanotubes. This is demonstrated in an example of double‐walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) containing cobalt residual catalyst nanoparticle impurities, which themselves contain iron‐based impurities. It was found that iron‐based impurities within Co residual nanoparticles present in DWCNTs are responsible for the electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The chemical states of metallic impurities were investigated by high‐resolution X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy.