Ternary composites of multi-wall carbon nanotubes,polyaniline, and noble-metal nanoparticles for potential applications in electrocatalysis

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes were coated with a conducting polymer, polyaniline phosphotungstate. Such composite structures have mixed electronic and proton conductivity, high surface area and porosity. These materials were decorated with catalytically-active noble metals — Pt, Pd, and Rh. Metal nanoparticles were uniformly distributed in the polymer matrix. Such ternary composites can be considered as electrode materials in sensors, electrolysers, supercapacitors, and especially in low-temperature fuel cells with a proton-conducting polymer membrane.