Preparation and Characterization of Carbon Nitride Nanotubes and Their Applications as Catalyst Supporter

Abstract

Carbon nitride nanotubes were produced by using porous anodic aluminum oxide membranes as the template through a polymerization reaction between ethylenediamine and carbon tetrachloride. The synthesized nanotubes were systematically studied by scan electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform IR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The so-called carbon nitride materials obtained from this method were in fact carbon materials doped with nitrogen, and were partially oxidized. The carbon nitride nanotubes were then loaded with Pt nanoparticles, which are mostly loaded at the outside wall of the nanotubes and show excellent catalytic ability in cyclohexene hydrogenation.