Facile sonochemical synthesis of carbon nanotube-supported bimetallic Pt–Rh nanoparticles for room temperature hydrogenation of arenes

Bimetallic Pt–Rh nanoparticles can be deposited uniformly on surfaces of carboxylate functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) using a simple one-step sonochemical method. The bimetallic nanoparticle catalyst exhibits a strong synergistic effect relative to the individual Pt or Rh metal nanoparticles for catalytic hydrogenation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), neat benzene and alkylbenzenes. Complete ring saturation of PAHs can be achieved using the bimetallic Pt–Rh/MWNTs catalyst at room temperature. This one-step synthesis technique provides a simple and rapid way of making highly active and recyclable CNT-supported monometallic and bimetallic nanocatalysts for low temperature hydrogenation reactions.