Facile carbothermal reduction approach to hybrid platinum-carbon nanotubes composite for electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol

We have provided an effective, environmentally benign approach for the synthesis of hybrid platinum-carbon nanotubes (Pt-CNTs) composite via a CNTs-guided carbothermal reduction. The materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results revealed that CNTs acted as both support and reducing agent, and therefore the Pt nanoparticles with an average particle size of 3.5 nm could uniformly disperse onto the surface of CNTs. Moreover, as-fabricated Pt-CNTs exhibited the enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability for ethanol oxidation in both acidic and alkaline media, in comparison to that prepared by electrochemical deposition. This approach greatly enlarges the practical application areas of hybrid Pt-CNTs composite materials.