Carbon nanotube-Cu hybrids enhanced catalytic activity in aqueous media

In this work, we report the synthesis of a hybrid material, consisting of Cu nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) anchored on the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which is able to increase the catalytic behavior when compared to bare CuNPs. This enhanced activity was evaluated by the electrophoretic separation of three carbohydrates: sucrose, glucose and fructose. CNTs were first synthesized in the presence of minute amounts of oxygen, oxidized using H2O2-UV radiation and then decorated with Cu-NPs. The resulting hybrid structure was confirmed and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, titration, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis and Raman spectroscopy.