One-pot synthesis of Pt/carbon nanotubes by self-regulated reduction for electrocatalysis.

This paper describes a method for size-controlled synthesis of Pt nanoparticles and their attachment to the sidewalls of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by self-regulated reduction of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate (SDS), without surface pretreatment. The size of the Pt nanoparticles is controlled by adjusting the concentration of SDS. When Pt/CNTs are heated to 500 degrees C in N2 atmosphere, Pt nanochains are formed on the CNTs; some of these nanochains contain small islands.