Synthesis of carbon foam covered with carbon nanofibers as catalyst support for gas phase catalytic reactions

Mesophase pitch based carbon foam (MPCF) covered with a layer of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) was prepared as catalyst support for gas phase catalytic reactions. Owing to the CNF layer, the specific surface area of MPCF increases from 40 to 198 m²/g. This kind of catalyst support plays an important role in the enhancement of mass/heat transfer due to the large external surface area, high porosity and high thermal conductivity. When selective catalytic NO reduction was taken as a model reaction, more than 90% NO conversion could be achieved in a wide temperature range of 180-220 °C over MnO_x-CeO₂/MPCF-CNF catalyst.     

平直碳纳米纤维与螺旋碳纳米纤维的共同生长

研究了采用乙醇催化燃烧法制备的碳纳米纤维的形貌和结构，并且讨论了平直碳纳米纤维与螺旋碳纳米纤维分别对应的生长机制。分析结果表明在特定的实验条件下，可以制备出平直碳纳米纤维与螺旋碳纳米纤维的共生材料。螺旋碳纳米纤维的生长机制是基于催化剂颗粒的各向异性。本实验方法具有制备工艺简单，碳源无毒性，制备过程无环境污染等特点，因而有望实现大量生产。     

Electrospun carbon nanofibers as low-cost counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNs) have been explored as an electrocatalyst and low-cost alternative to platinum (Pt) for triiodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry measurements indicated that the ECN counter electrodes exhibited low charge-transfer resistance (Rct), large capacitance (C), and fast reaction rates for triiodide reduction. Although the efficiency (η) of ECN-based cells was slightly lower than that of Pt-based cells, their short circuit current density (Jsc) and open circuit voltage (Voc) were comparable. The ECN-based cells achieved an energy conversion efficiency (η) of 5.5 % under the AM 1.5 illumination at 100 mW cm(-2). The reason for lower cell performance using the ECN electrode was because of its lower fill factor (FF) than that of Pt-based cells, probably caused by high total series resistance (RStot) at ～15.5 Ω cm2, which was larger than that of ～4.8 Ω cm2 in the Pt-based devices. Simulated results showed that the fill factor (FF) and η could be substantially improved by decreasing RStot, which might be achieved by using thinner and highly porous ECNs to reduce the thickness of the ECNs counter electrode.     

Y-junction multibranched carbon nanofibers

Multibranched carbon nanofiber (CNF) is produced by a thermal chemical vapor deposition method using camphor as precursor. Nickel and cobalt catalyst was deposited on silicon substrate by e-beam evaporation and used as substrate for the growth of carbon nanomaterials. Branched carbon nanofibers were grown on the nickel thin film at 900 degrees C, whereas spherical carbon beads formed on the cobalt thin film. These fibers followed base growth mechanism devoid of any catalyst particle at the tip of fibers.     

Purification process for vertically aligned carbon nanofibers

Individual, free-standing, vertically aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes or nanofibers are ideal for sensor and electrode applications. Our plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition techniques for producing free-standing and vertically aligned carbon nanofibers use catalyst particles at the tip of the fiber. Here we present a simple purification process for the removal of iron catalyst particles at the tip of vertically aligned carbon nanofibers derived by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The first step involves thermal oxidation in air, at temperatures of 200-400 degrees C, resulting in the physical swelling of the iron particles from the formation of iron oxide. Subsequently, the complete removal of the iron oxide particles is achieved with diluted acid (12% HCl). The purification process appears to be very efficient at removing all of the iron catalyst particles. Electron microscopy images and Raman spectroscopy data indicate that the purification process does not damage the graphitic structure of the nanotubes.     

Sulfur-induced porous carbon nanofibers composite SiO as bifunctional anode for high-performance Li-ion storage

Journal of Materials Science - Non-conductivity and volume expansion are the main factors hindering the development of SiO anode materials. To solve these problems, in this work, a bifunctional...     

Osiers-sprout-like heteroatom-doped carbon nanofibers as ultrastable anodes for lithium/sodium ion storage

Nano Research - We report an in situ carbothermic reduction process to prepare osiers-sprout-like heteroatom-doped carbon nanofibers. The dosage of copper salts and a unique annealing process have...     

Nanosized-bismuth-embedded 1D carbon nanofibers as high-performance anodes for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries

Bi is a promising candidate for energy storage materials because of its high volumetric capacity,stability in moisture/air,and facile preparation.In this study,the electrochemical performance of nanosized-Bi-embedded one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanofibers (Bi/C nanofibers) as anodes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) and Na-ion batteries (NIBs) was systematically investigated.The Bi/C nanofibers were prepared using a single-nozzle electrospinning method with a specified Bi source followed by carbothermal reduction.Abundant Bi nanoparticles with diameters of approximately 20 nm were homogeneously dispersed and embedded in the 1D carbon nanofibers,as confirmed by structural and morphological characterization.Electrochemical measurements indicate that the Bi/C nanofiber anodes could deliver a long cycle life for LIBs and a preferable rate performance for NIBs.The superior electrochemical performances of the Bi/C nanofiber anodes are attributed to the 1D carbon nanofiber structure and uniform distribution of Bi nanoparticles embedded in the carbon matrix.This unique embedded structure provides a favorable electron carrier and buffering matrix for the effective release of mechanical stress caused by volume change and prevents the aggregation of Bi nanoparticles.     

纳米炭纤维的表面润湿行为

采用动态渗透法研究了不同结构的纳米炭纤维(Carbonnanofibers,CNF)表面润湿性以及在不同溶剂中润湿性的变化和表面改性对其润湿性的影响。结果表明,生长条件如催化剂组成、碳源等对CNF的表面性质有显著影响,并最终决定其在溶剂中的润湿能力。以Fe/γ-Al2O3为催化剂,以C2H4为碳源得到的CNF在水中的润湿性能最差;而以Ni/γ-Al2O3为催化剂,CO为碳源得到的CNF在环己烷中的润湿性能最好。CNF在不同溶剂中的相对接触角测定表明CNF是一种表面非极性较强的材料。设CNF在润湿性能最好的环己烷中的接触角为0°,则CNF在水,丙酮,乙醇中的相对接触角分别为81.6°,45.2°,24.8°。不同的表面改性手段可对CNF的表面性质进行调变以控制其在不同溶剂中的润湿行为。在浓硝酸中液相氧化可提高其对水溶液和环己烷的润湿性能;在氩气中的高温热处理可提高其对水溶液的润湿性能,但降低了对环己烷的润湿能力;而在过氧化氢溶液中的处理则同时降低了对水溶液以及环己烷的润湿能力。     

Acid functionalization of carbon nanofibers

We have studied the effects of temperature (70–100°C), process duration (1–4 h), and the ratio of the acid mixture (concentrated HNO₃ and H₂SO₄ in the volume ratio 1: 3) volume to carbon nanofiber weight (70: 1 to 133: 1 ml/g) on the yield of functionalization products and their dispersibility in water. The results indicate that, with increasing temperature and process duration, the yield of functionalization products decreases, and their concentration (“solubility”) in the aqueous dispersion increases: from 1.2–1.3 to 11.0 mg/ml when the yield decreases from 71–89 to 30%. We present the first measurements of the gas volume evolved during functionalization and show that it increases with increasing temperature and process duration, reaching 500–600 ml/g carbon under the most severe conditions. The major component of the reaction gases is CO₂ (over 50 vol %).     

介孔炭作为加氢脱硫催化剂载体材料的研究

以介孔硅SBA-15为模板,焦糖和呋喃醇为碳源,通过多种浇注法制备介孔炭材料.采用低温氮吸附、透射电镜和X射线小角衍射分析模板及介孔炭的织构.结果显示合成的介孔炭成功地复制了SBA-15的结构.以制备的介孔炭作载体担载钴钼合成了加氢脱硫催化剂,利用X射线能谱、透射电镜能量分布谱及一氧化氮化学吸附评估了催化剂的活性及活性点分布,结果表明介孔炭担载的催化剂活性高于活性炭担载的同类催化剂.     

Electrical properties of electrospun carbon nanofibers

Electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNs) were prepared through stabilization and carbonization of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers as the precursor, and their morphological, structural, and electrical properties were evaluated. Temperature dependencies of resistivity of ECNs carbonized at several temperatures were investigated. The character of the temperature dependencies of resistivity was typical for semiconducting materials. The values of corresponding activation energies were obtained for ECN samples carbonized at different temperatures, and the results showed that the activation energy of ECNs decreased with the increase of carbonization temperature.     

Nano-scale hydroxyapatite formation on silica fiber by using carbon nanofibers as templates

Nano-scale hydroxyapatite particle network with uniform morphology and good crystallinity was fabricated on silica fiber by using carbon nanofibers as templates and with a methanol solution of Ca(NO3)2 x 4H2O-H3PO4. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, coupled with X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the template effect and the existence of hydroxyapatite on silica fiber. It was clearly verified that by tuning the formation of carbon nanofibers on silica fiber, it was possible to control the properties of the resulting hydroxyapatite on silica fiber. In addition, the formation mechanism of hydroxyapatite on silica fiber via the template route was proposed.     

Nonionic surfactant-templated mesoporous carbon as an electrocatalyst support for methanol oxidation

Two carbons were synthesized for use as platinum electrocatalyst supports for methanol oxidation. For both materials, furfuryl alcohol was used as the carbon precursor; however, one (CPEG) was made using poly ethylene glycol as the pore former, while the other (CSRF) was produced using Pluronic^® F127 as the soft template by organic–organic self-assembly. The CPEG and CSRF carbons were estimated from nitrogen physisorption experiments to be micro- and mesoporous, respectively. Platinum nanoparticles were deposited on each carbon as well as on Vulcan XC-72 carbon by the formic acid reduction method. The physicochemical properties of electrocatalysts were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and their electrochemical features were examined using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and impedance spectroscopy. It was found that higher methanol oxidation peak current densities as well as lesser charge transfer resistance at electrode/electrolyte interface were obtained for Pt supported on CSRF as compared to those on Vulcan XC-72 carbon, owing to the higher specific surface area and larger total pore volume (696 m² g⁻¹ and 0.60 cm³ g⁻¹, respectively) together with superior electrical conductivity of mesoporous CSRF. On the other hand, the lower surface area and pore volume of microporous CPEG substrate confined Pt nanoparticles deposition and thus made CPEG-supported Pt an inefficient methanol oxidation electrocatalyst.     

Self-assembled palladium nanoparticles on carbon nanofibers

Carbon nanofibers containing palladium nanoparticles were prepared simply by electrospinning a polymer solution containing palladium chloride and the subsequent thermal treatment in argon. It is demonstrated that palladium oxide formed in air stabilization transforms into nanoparticles through an interaction with carbon materials. Since the palladium nanoparticles covering the outer surface of nanofibers homogeneously are small enough to have high catalytic activity, this material could find applications as efficient catalysts and hydrogen sensors.     

Electrospinning carbon nanotube polymer composite nanofibers

The unique and exceptional physical properties of carbon nanotubes have inspired their use as a filler within a polymeric matrix to produce carbon nanotube polymer composites with enhanced mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. A powerful method of synthesising nanofibers comprising these polymer composites is electrospinning, which utilises an applied electric stress to draw out a thin nanometer-dimension fiber from the tip of a sharp conical meniscus. The focussing of the flow due to converging streamlines at the cone vertex then ensures alignment of the carbon nanotubes along the fiber axis, thus enabling the anisotropic properties of the nanotubes to be exploited. We consider the work that has been carried out to date on various aspects encompassing preprocessing, synthesis and characterisation of these electrospun polymer composite nanofibers as well as the governing mechanisms and associated properties of such fibers. Particular attention is also dedicated to the theoretical modelling of these fiber systems, in particular to the electrohydrodynamic modelling of electrospinning polymer jets.     

Synthesis of carbon nanofibers/mica hybrids for antistatic coatings

The use of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as polymer additive has been impeded due to the problem associated with the dispersion of CNFs. In this study, CNFs/mica hybrids were synthesized by catalytic decomposition of CO over mica supported iron catalysts to increase their dispersity in polymer matrix. Antistatic coatings were prepared by dispersing the as-synthesized hybrids into epoxy with low shearing agitation and then casting the mixture by a coater. With the help of mica, the CNFs could be easily dispersed into the resin uniformly. The morphology of the CNFs, their distributions on mica surface and the size of mica, are discriminated to have great effect on surface resistivity of the coating.     

Novel strategy for the synthesis of vertically orientated carbon nanofibers

This paper presents a first approach of a simple way to obtain vertically orientated carbon nanotubes. The used catalytic system consisted of quartz or graphite plates, on which some iron solutions (of precursors such as nitrates or phthalocyanines) were deposited by simple impregnation, generating homogeneous films. After drying, the plates were submitted to reduction and reaction procedure, which consisted in acetylene decomposition at 750 °C during 1 h. Samples after reaction were studied by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, which confirmed the formation of homogeneous and vertically orientated structures of carbon nanotubes over the plates.     

A novel catalyst for synthesis of styrene: carbon nanofibers immobilized on activated carbon

Carbon NanoFibers (CNFs) with hierarchically structure have been immobilized onto Activated Carbon (AC) by impregnation with an aqueous solution of Fe(CH3COO)2, reduction and subsequent chemical vapor decomposition of ethylene. The morphology of the CNFs can be modulated by adjusting the pH of the Fe(CH3COO)2 solution used for impregnating the AC. A stable yield of 35% in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene was obtained at a temperature of 673 K, around 200 K lower than the current industrial process. The immobilized CNFs on AC catalysts combine the catalytic properties of the carbon nanofibers and the suprastructure of the AC host. The final material is an easy to handle active catalyst, with an open structure of immobilized CNFs avoiding the pressure drop problem, which is typically observed for fine powder forms of CNFs. The immobilized CNFs on AC are attractive for gas-phase fixed-bed industrial applications.