Methods for preparing catalysts supported on carbon nanotube networks

Abstract

A new method for preparing a supported catalyst is herein provided. The supported catalyst comprises a carbon nanotube network structure containing metal catalysts. The metal catalyst may be loaded onto functionalized carbon nanotubes before forming the carbon nanotube network structure. Alternatively, the metal catalyst may be loaded onto the carbon nanotube network structures themselves.

1 . A method for preparing a supported catalyst comprising the steps of: 
 loading metal catalysts onto carbon nanotubes and    forming a carbon nanotube network structure from said metal loaded carbon nanotubes with a linking agent.    
     
     
         2 . A method for preparing a supported catalyst comprising the steps of: 
 forming a carbon nanotube network structure with a linking agent and    loading metal catalysts onto said carbon nanotube network structure.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said metal catalyst is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, or metal oxides, metal halides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal phosphides and metal sulfides of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, La, Ce, W or combination thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said metal catalyst is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, or metal oxides, metal halides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal phosphides and metal sulfides of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, La, Ce, W or combination thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A method for preparing a supported catalyst comprising the steps of: 
 functionalizing carbon nanotubes with an oxidizing agent to form functionalized carbon nanotubes,    loading metal catalysts onto said functionalized carbon nanotubes to form metal loaded carbon nanotubes, said metal catalysts selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, or or metal oxides, metal halides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal phosphides and metal sulfides of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, La, Ce, W or combination thereof; and    forming a carbon nanotube network structure from said metal loaded carbon nanotubes with a linking agent.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of potassium chlorate, sulfuric acid, nitric acid (HNO 3 ), persulfate, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), CO 2 , O 2 , steam, N 2 O, NO, NO 2 , O 3 , or ClO 2 .  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said linking agent is a diamine.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said metal catalysts are loaded onto said functionalized carbon nanotubes by mixing a solution containing salts of said metal catalysts with said functionalized carbon nanotubes and evaporating said solution.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said metal catalysts are loaded onto said functionalized carbon nanotubes by impregnation, incipient wetness, ion exchange, precipitation, physical or chemical adsorption or co-precipitation.  
     
     
         10 . A method for preparing a supported catalyst comprising the steps of: 
 functionalizing carbon nanotubes with an oxidizing agent to form functionalized carbon nanotubes,    forming a carbon nanotube network structure from said functionalized carbon nanotubes with a linking agent,    loading metal catalysts onto said carbon nanotube network structure to form metal loaded carbon nanotube network, said metal catalysts selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, or metal oxides, metal halides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal phosphides and metal sulfides of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, La, Ce, W or combination thereof.