Solid-phase synthesis of graphitic carbon nanostructures from iron and cobalt gluconates and their utilization as electrocatalyst supports

We present a novel and facile synthesis methodology for obtaining graphitic carbon structures from Fe(II) and Co(II) gluconates. The formation of graphitic carbon can be carried out in only one step by means of heat treatment of these organic salts at a temperature of 900 degrees C or 1000 degrees C...

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Published in:Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP 2008, Vol.10 (10), p.1433-1442
Main Authors: SEVILLA, M, MARTINEZ-DE LECEA, C. Salinas, VALDKS-SOLIS, T, MORALLON, E, FUERTES, A. B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmosphere
Carbon - chemistry
Catalysis
Chemistry
Cobalt - chemistry
Colloidal state and disperse state
Electrochemistry
Exact sciences and technology
General and physical chemistry
Gluconates - chemistry
Graphite - chemical synthesis
Graphite - chemistry
Iron - chemistry
Kinetics and mechanism of reactions
Methanol - chemistry
Molecular Conformation
Nanostructures - chemistry
Oxidation-Reduction
Particle Size
Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena
Platinum - chemistry
Surface Properties
Temperature
Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
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Summary:We present a novel and facile synthesis methodology for obtaining graphitic carbon structures from Fe(II) and Co(II) gluconates. The formation of graphitic carbon can be carried out in only one step by means of heat treatment of these organic salts at a temperature of 900 degrees C or 1000 degrees C under inert atmosphere. This process consists of the following steps: (a) pyrolysis of the organic gluconate and its transformation to amorphous carbon, (b) conversion of Fe(2+) and Co(2+) ions to Fe(2)O(3) and CoO and their subsequent reduction to metallic nanoparticles by the carbon and (c) conversion of a fraction of formed amorphous carbon to graphitic structures by Fe and Co nanoparticles that act as catalysts in the graphitization process. The removal of the amorphous carbon and metallic nanoparticles by means of oxidative treatment (KMnO(4) in an acid solution) allows graphitic carbon nanostructures (GCNs) to be selectively recovered. The GCNs thus obtained (i.e. nanocapsules and nanopipes) have a high crystallinity as evidenced by TEM/SAED, XRD and Raman analysis. In addition, we used these GCNs as supports for platinum nanoparticles, which were well dispersed (mean Pt size approximately 2.5-3.2 nm). Most electrocatalysts prepared in this way have a high electrocatalytical surface area, up to 90 m(2) g(-1) Pt, and exhibit high catalytic activities toward methanol electrooxidation.
ISSN:1463-9076
1463-9084
DOI:10.1039/b714924g