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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Functionalization and Dispersion of Carbon Nanomaterials Using an Environmentally Friendly Ultrasonicated Ozonolysis Process
Published on: May 30, 2017
Water dispersible surface-functionalized platinum/carbon nanorattles for size-selective catalysis
Corinne J Hofer1, Robert N Grass1, Elia M Schneider1
1Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering , ETH Zurich , Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1 , 8093 Zurich , Switzerland .
Abstract:
Selective dealloying of metal nanoparticles results in rattle-type hollow carbon nanoshells enclosing platinum nanoparticles, which are able to perform size-selective catalysis. Selective functionalization of the outer graphene-like carbon surface prevents agglomeration and leads to well dispersible nanocatalysts in aqueous solutions. The synthesis starts with the production of nanoparticles with a cobalt-platinum-alloy core surrounded by graphene-like carbon via reducing flame spray synthesis. After surface functionalization, simultaneous pore formation in the shell-wall and dissolution of the cobalt results in platinum encapsulated in hollow carbon nanospheres. Catalytic oxidation of differently sized sugars (glucose and maltoheptaose) reveales size-selective catalytic properties of these platinum nanorattles.
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