Effect of Surface Carboxyl Groups of Carbon Nanotubes on the Dispersion of RuO2 Nanoparticles

The distribution of surface oxygen-containing groups Could be controlled by side-wall functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) using HNO3 solution. The dispersion and catalytic activity of nano-RuO2 Catalyst depend on the surface carboxyl groups of CNT but had no correlation with hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. RuO2 and IrO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using polydentrate ligands as stabilizers. By changing the species and amounts of the ligands, the size of RuO2 and IrO2 nanoparticles could be adjusted. The carboxyl groups either from the ligands or from the CNT surfaces contribute to the dispersion of oxide nanocatalysts.