Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes as a metal catalyst support

The science and technology of catalysis is of fundamental importance to a national economy. Today about 90% of all technical chemicals are manufactured by the use of catalysts. Nanoparticles of noble metals are extremely important materials in the catalysis industry due to cost issues and properties that are not found in their bulk state. An efficient way to produce and stabilise noble metal nanoparticles is by dispersion on a suitable support. Carbon-based supports, such as carbon nanotubes, carbon spheres, carbon fibres, etc., have been found to be good supports for metal nanoparticles. However, to be used effectively, the carbon surface must be modified either by functionalisation or doping. This review discusses the synthesis and the possible applications of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes as supports for metal nanoparticles in heterogeneous catalysis.