High Surface Area Mesoporous Carbon Research Articles

Solar Energy Conversion by Dye-Sensitized Photovoltaic Cells Using High Surface Area Mesoporous Carbon Counter Electrode

Development of new counter electrode materials is vital for commercialization of efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) process. Research on DSCs has been focused mainly on using platinum as counter electrode, which makes them expensive. In this paper, we report DSCs fabricated with high surface area mesoporous carbon thin film with uniform spherical particles as counter electrode. An overall light-to-electricity efficiency as high as 7.6% has been achieved under illumination of air mass (AM) 1.5 sunlight (100 mW/cm2). In comparison with activated carbon, high surface area mesoporous carbon shows superior performance. Our results show that mesoporous carbon with high specific surface area and uniform pore size distribution proved to be better efficient electrode material for DSCs.

Unique mesoporous carbon microsphere/1-D MnO2-built composite architecture and their enhanced electrochemical capacitance performance

A new class of micro/nano composite architecture, characterized by radially grown MnO2 nanoneedles on high specific surface area (SSA) mesoporous carbon microspheres (MCMs), is presented for the first time as electrode materials for electrochemical capacitors (ECs). This unique architecture could be considered as an omnibearing oriented 1-D nanostructure which possesses high power features for EC applications. When evaluated for electrochemical capacitance performance in a non-aqueous electrolyte, this composite architecture demonstrates improved electrochemical properties with maximum specific energy and energy density of 164 W h kg−1 and 25 kW h L−1, respectively. This enhanced performance could be mainly attributed to the integration of efficient double layer capacitance and tremendous pseudo-capacitance from MCMs and MnO2. Our findings suggest that this composite architecture might be used as a promising anode material for high performance ECs.

Adsorption of C6 hydrocarbon rings on mesoporous catalyst supports

The adsorption of cyclohexane, cyclohexene, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, 1,4-cyclohexadiene and benzene was studied on pristine and shortened multi-wall carbon nanotubes, SBA-15 and a novel high surface area mesoporous carbon (CMH). Data were fitted with the Freundlich adsorption equation and the correlation between the fitted parameters and quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) descriptors of the adsorbates was analyzed. Adsorption on carbon nanotubes is more sensitive to the partial pressure of unsaturated adsorbates, whereas SBA-15 is more sensitive to saturated partners. CMH is a neutral material that appears to be particularly useful for studying catalyst particle efficiency without the influence of the support itself.

Development of carbon nanotube and carbon xerogel supported catalysts for the electro-oxidation of methanol in fuel cells

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes and high surface area mesoporous carbon xerogel were prepared and used as supports for monometallic Pt and bimetallic Pt–Ru catalysts. In order to assess the influence of the oxygen surface groups of the support, the mesoporous carbon xerogel was also oxidized with diluted oxygen before impregnation. Various reduction protocols were tested, the best results corresponding to reduction with sodium borohydride. High dispersion catalysts were obtained, which showed quite good performance in the electro-oxidation of methanol. In particular, a remarkable increase in the activity was observed when the Pt–Ru catalysts were supported on the oxidised xerogel. This effect was explained in terms of the metal oxidation state, as shown by XPS. It has been shown that the oxidised support helps to maintain the metals in the metallic state, as required for the electro-oxidation of methanol. This effect was negligible in the case of the Pt catalysts.

Carbon xerogel supported Pt and Pt–Ni catalysts for electro-oxidation of methanol in basic medium

Highly mesoporous carbon was obtained by carbonization of a polymer xerogel previously synthesized via sol–gel condensation of resorcinol and formaldehyde. The investigation describes electro-oxidation of methanol in alkaline electrolyte using Pt and Pt–Ni catalysts supported on this high surface area mesoporous carbon. The electrocatalytic tests showed better performance of the catalysts when impregnated with this carbon support.

Mesoporous carbon supported Pt and Pt–Sn catalysts for hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde

High surface area mesoporous carbon xerogels were prepared and used as supports for monometallic Pt and bimetallic Pt–Sn catalysts. These catalysts were tested in the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to cinnamyl alcohol. Conversions and selectivities were found to depend on both the texture and the surface chemistry of the supports.

Recent advances in nano precious metal catalyst research at Union Chemical Laboratories, ITRI

This study illustrates some recent progress of nano precious metal catalyst research at Union Chemical Laboratories (UCL). Nano gold catalyst was prepared by a precipitation method, in which, HAuCl 4 was precipitated onto a suspension of the iron hydroxide support, with a low calcination temperature at 453 K. The catalysts were highly active with 100% conversion achieved for the oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) within 10,000 ppm at ambient temperature and high space velocity up to 500,000 h −1. This catalyst had good lifetime and was resistant to moisture and high concentration of CO 2. In addition, Pt–Ru/C catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell was prepared with the high surface area mesoporous carbon support and possesses both uniform dispersion of precious metals and very small crystallite size. Catalyst prepared using the incipient-wetness method resulted in the formation of extremely active Pt–Ru/C catalysts. The enhancement in activity is mainly attributed to the intimate contact of Pt and Ru that forms the dual active site.

Development of a New Mesoporous Carbon Using an HMS Aluminosilicate Template

Mesoporous carbon materials are desirable electrode materials and are also useful for the separation of bulky organics. In this article, the templated synthesis of a new high surface area mesoporous carbon using hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) aluminosilicate is reported. Preliminary results on the electrochemical double-layer capacitance performance of the material are presented that indicate that it is superior to the commercially available carbon MSC-25. In addition, the pore structure of HMS is indirectly elucidated.