Open AccessElectrochemical detection of methanol by platinum/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites synthesised via hydrogen plasma reduction process
Author(s) -
Xu Jielin,
Wang Shenggao,
Du Zurong,
Zhu Jinlong,
Liu Yi,
Zhang Wei,
Wang Jianhua
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2013.0604
Subject(s) - carbon nanotube , methanol , detection limit , materials science , nanocomposite , platinum , electrode , electrochemistry , catalysis , platinum nanoparticles , chemical engineering , saturated calomel electrode , inorganic chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , working electrode , chemistry , organic chemistry , chromatography , engineering
Platinum (Pt)/carbon nanotube (CNTs) nanocomposites were fabricated on the basis of Pt precursors reduced by hydrogen plasma generated by microwave process. The Pt nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on multi‐walled CNTs. Such nanocomposites exhibit remarkable catalytic performance towards the oxidation of methanol. The concentration of methanol was determined by a chronoamperometric method by using the Pt/CNTs modified glass carbon electrode (Pt/CNTs/GCE) at an oxidation potential of 0.7 V against the saturated calomel electrode. The Pt/CNTs/GCE showed a good performance for detecting methanol because of the unique properties of CNTs which increased the active surface area of the electrode and accelerated the electro transfer. The linear detection range of methanol was determined to be from 2.0 × 10 −4 to 10.0 M in two slopes with a detection limit 5 × 10 −5 M at a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3. The performance of the Pt/CNTs/GCE in terms of stability, linear range and detection limit shows its potential application for methanol detection.