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Carboxyl groups trigger the activity of carbon nanotube catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction and agar conversion

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Abstract

Ozone treatment is a common way to functionalize commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with various oxygen functionalities like carboxyl, phenol and lactone groups, in order to enhance their textural properties and chemical activity. In order to detail the effect of each functional group, we correlated the activity with the surface density of each group, and found that the carboxyl groups play a pivotal role in two important catalytic reactions, namely the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and agar conversion to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). During the processes, the hydrophilic surface provides a strong affinity for reaction substrates while the improved porosity allows the efficient diffusion of reactants and products. Furthermore, the activity of functionalized CNTs for agar conversion remained almost unchanged during nine cycles of reaction. This work highlights a strategy for improving the activity of CNTs for electrochemical ORR and agar conversion reactions, as well a promising application of carboxyl-rich CNTs as a solid acid catalyst to produce high-purity HMF—an important chemical intermediate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, China

    Yexin Zhang, Chunlin Chen, Zhongsen Ma, Yajie Zhang, Hengheng Xia, Lei Wang & Jian Zhang

  2. Science and Technology on Surface Physics and Chemistry Laboratory, Mianyang, 621907, China

    Lixia Peng & Aili Yang

  3. Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China

    Dang Sheng Su

Authors
  1. Yexin Zhang
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  2. Chunlin Chen
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  3. Lixia Peng
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  4. Zhongsen Ma
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  5. Yajie Zhang
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  6. Hengheng Xia
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  7. Aili Yang
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  8. Lei Wang
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  9. Dang Sheng Su
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  10. Jian Zhang
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Correspondence to Yajie Zhang, Lei Wang or Jian Zhang.

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Zhang, Y., Chen, C., Peng, L. et al. Carboxyl groups trigger the activity of carbon nanotube catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction and agar conversion. Nano Res. 8, 502–511 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-014-0660-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-014-0660-3

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