Preliminary Electrochemical Analysis of Carbon Nanoparticles from Candle Soot

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) generated by candle soot are of interest due to their potential applications. Because of their electronic properties, carbon-based zero-dimensional, one-dimensional, and two-dimensional nanomaterials such as graphene, fullerene, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanofibers are extensively studied (1).However, synthesis of these nanomaterials is complex and expensive. Candle soot also contains fluorescent carbon NPswhich can be used for the preparation of fluorescent makers (2). The potential applications of candle soot NPs include energy storage [e.g., can be used for supercapacitor electrode material (3)], and conversion [fuel cells (4)]. Candle soot can be an excellent source of carbon NPs. In this presentation, we cover some challenges associated with carbon NPs, such as (a) instability of NPs due to agglomeration with time and increase in temperature and (b) separation and isolation of NPs. Thus, we focus on stabilization of NPs, isolation and characterization of NPs and to study electronic, optical, and electrochemical properties to determine whether they are promising candidate in the field of energy conversion.Candle soot formation depends on various parameters like substrate material, deposition time, flame temperature, wick dimension, and flame height (5). We developed a protocol for the collection of candle soot. With this proposed protocol, the carbon NPs generated from candle soot ranges from 50 nm to larger particle size which is confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique shown in Fig. 1, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). We will include the electrochemical analysis such as investigation of oxidation/reduction processes to determine fundamental thermodynamic parameters of standard potential in organic solvents and aqueous solutions. References Jariwala, V.K. Sangwan, L.J. Lauhan, T.J. Marks, M.C. Harsam, Carbon nanomaterials for electronics, optoelectronics, photovoltaics, and sensing, Chem. Soc. Rev., 43 (2013), 2824-28.J. Campbell, M.J. Andrews, K.J. Stevenson, New nanotech from an ancient material: Chemistry demonstrations involving carbon-based soot, J. Chem. Educ., 89 (2012) 1280-1287.Zhang, D. Wang, B. Yu, F. Zhou, W. Liu, Candle soot as a supercapacitor electrode material, RSC. Adv., 4 (2014), 2586-2589.Khalakhan, R. Fiala, J. Laukova, P. Kus, A. Ostroverkh, M. Vaclavu, M. Vorokhta, I. Matolinova, V. Matolin., Candle Soot as an efficient support for proton exchange membrane fuel cell catalyst, Fuel Cell., 16 (2016) 652-655.N. Sahoo, B. kandasubramanian. An experimental design for the investigation of water repellent property of candle soot particles, Mater. Chem. Phys.,148 (2014), 134-142. Figure 1