Hydrophobic Pt catalysts with different carbon substrates for the interphase hydrogen isotope separation

Abstract

Pt particles were supported on three carbon substrates, namely multiwalled carbon nanotube, activated carbon, and Vulcan XC-72. Corresponding hydrophobic Pt catalysts for interphase H/D isotope separation were then fabricated. Catalytic performance tests demonstrated that selection of an appropriate carbon substrate is a very effective approach to improve hydrophobic catalytic activity and reduce Pt usage. The activated carbon-based hydrophobic catalyst had the lowest activity of the three carbon substrate-based hydrophobic catalyst. The multiwalled carbon nanotubes, either as a substrate for Pt particles or as an addition to the traditional Vulcan XC-72-based hydrophobic catalyst, promoted catalytic activity of the hydrophobic catalyst. The physicochemical characterizations of the carbon substrates, the carbon-supported Pt catalyst, and the hydrophobic catalytic membranes were analyzed. The characterization results explained why these hydrophobic catalysts had different catalytic activities.