Synthesis of carbon nanotubes filled with palladium nanoparticles using arc discharge in solution
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Abstract
A novel method for simultaneously forming and filling and decorating carbon nanotubes with palladium nanoparticles is disclosed. Synthesis involves preparing a palladium chloride (PdCl2) solution in a container, having two graphite electrodes, then immersing the graphite electrode assembly, into the PdCl2 solution; connecting the graphite electrodes to a direct current power supply; bringing the electrodes into contact with each other to strike an arc; separating the electrodes to sustain the arc inside the solution; putting the container with electrode assembly in a water-cooled bath; and collecting Pd-nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotubes decorated with Pd-nanoparticles. The temperature at the site of the arc-discharge is greater than 3000° C. At these temperatures, the palladium is ionized into nanoparticles and the graphite electrodes generate layers of graphene (carbon), which roll away from the anode and encapsulate or entrap the Pd-nanoparticles. The unique nanotube structures have significant commercial potential as gas sensors or as a means for hydrogen storage.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. A carbon nanotube filled with Pd-nanoparticles made by the process of:
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preparing a palladium chloride (PdCl2) solution comprising PdCl2 powder, de-ionized water, and hydrochloric acid in a container; immersing a graphite electrode assembly, having two graphite electrodes, wherein the electrode assembly consists of one electrode acting as a cathode and another electrode acting as an anode, into the PdCl2 solution; connecting the graphite electrodes to a direct current power supply; bringing the electrodes into contact with each other to strike an arc and create an arc-discharge, wherein the temperature at the site of the arc-discharge is greater than 3000°
C.;vaporizing the PdCl2 solution to leave a residue of Pd-nanoparticles; separating the electrodes to sustain the arc inside the solution; forming graphene layers that roll away from the electrodes and simultaneously encapsulate the Pd-nanoparticles; putting the container with electrode assembly in a water-cooled bath that has a temperature of approximately 7°
C.; andcollecting Pd-nanoparticles entrapped in carbon nanotubes.
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15. A composition of matter comprising simultaneously formed carbon nanotubes filled with metallic-nanoparticles prepared by a process of in-situ arc discharge in solution using a cylindrical reactor cell comprising:
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double walled glass with 2 cm thickness, on two sides of a cylindrical cell having an inner diameter of 10 cm, for flowing of cold water at 7°
C. to cool the cell;a cell cavity with a pair of inlets and a pair of outlets, wherein a first inlet is paired with a first outlet connected to the volume between the double glass walls for the flow of chilled water, and a second inlet is used for filling the cell with a solution for the arc-discharge reaction and is paired with a second outlet for filtering out the encapsulated and decorated carbon nanotubes formed in the cell; a first stainless steel plate covering the top of the cylindrical reactor cell that connects to an anode and a second stainless steel plate covering the bottom of the cylindrical reactor cell that connects to a cathode; and a direct current power supply system connecting to both the anode and the cathode that are immersed in the solution for the arc-discharge reaction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 18)
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17. (canceled)
Specification