Marimo nanocarbons composed of a cup-stacked carbon nanofilaments as anode catalyst support for enhanced power performance of direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract

Marimo nanocarbon(MNC) derived from C2 H4 and C3H6 contain many carbon nanofilaments (CNFs) with small filament diameters, whereas C2H6 and C3H8 contain many CNFs with large filament diameters. MNC(C2H4) and MNC(C3H6) pore sizes were approximately 25 nm, and MNC(C2 H4) and MNC(C3H6) specific surface area tended to be larger (C3H6). As a result, mesoporous MNC with small pore sizes can be synthesized using highly reactive alkanes as raw materials. The higher the carbon number of the raw material, the more functional groups and MNC(C2H4) and MNC(C3H6) were observed, as well as the more side chains and amorphous components. The highest surface functional group ratio was found in MNC(C3H8), while the lowest was found in MNC(C3H6). The stacking angle of graphene in CNF is gentler in MNC(C2H6) and MNC(C3H8), according to XRD results, and crystallinity is also higher in MNC (C3H8). As a result, high crystallinity MNC can be synthesized using low reactivity alkanes as raw materials. Finally, when used as a catalyst support for DMFCs, MNCs with more functional groups can improve power generation performance.