Functionalization of Carbon Microcoils by Platinum-Loading Through Dendrimer Binder

Pt nanoparticles protected by dendrimers (DEN(PtNP)s) were synthesized and successively covalent-bound to carbon microcoils (CMCs) through amide bonding. DEN(PtNP)s were homogeneously distributed on the surfaces of CMCs at low content of metal precursor. However, as the content of metal precursor was increased, DEN(PtNP)s tended to aggregate on the surfaces of CMCs. Then the content of Pt in composites of CMCs and DEN(PtNP)s increased effectively with the content of metal precursor. It is evident from the absence of a Raman G band that the composites maintain the amorphous character of the CMCs. The electrocatalytic activity toward the methanol oxidation on composite-loaded electrodes was examined, and results of cyclic voltammetry revealed the effective current enhancement with loading CMC/DEN(PtNP)s.