Highly efficient hydrogen peroxide decomposition using platinum/palladium alloy nanoparticles anchored on surface-functionalized carbon nanotubes

This study reports the development of a novel hybrid catalyst comprising platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) nanoparticles encapsulated in multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) functionalized with Poly (citric acid) (PCA) and supported on an aluminosilicate substrate. The MWCNTs were covalently grafted with PCA to enhance their catalytic efficiency in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) XRD, XPS, H2-TPR, and reactor decomposition tests revealed superior catalytic performance compared to carboxylated MWCNT counterparts. The MWCNT-g-PCA-Pt/Pd, MWCNT-g-PCA-Pt, and MWCNT-g-PCA-Pd nanocatalysts demonstrated significant improvements in H2O2 decomposition efficiency of 100%, 96%, and 89%, respectively. Notably, the PCA-grafted Pt/Pd hybrid alloy nanocatalysts exhibited a 30% increase in specific surface area and a 100% increase in turnover frequency (TOF). These enhancements are attributed to the porous structure of MWCNT-graft-PCA and the optimal distribution of the active catalytic phase on the substrate. The results suggest that this novel catalyst design holds significant promise for applications requiring efficient H2O2 decomposition.