Electrocatalytic Activity and Durability of Pt-Decorated Non-Covalently Functionalized Graphitic Structures

Carbon graphitic structures that differ in morphology, graphiticity and specific surface area were used as support for platinum for Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) in low temperature fuel cells. Graphitic supports were first non-covalently functionalized with pyrene carboxylic acid (PCA) and, subsequently, platinum nanoparticles were nucleated...

Bicontinuous microemulsions for high yield, wet synthesis of ultrafine nanoparticles: A general approach

The design of a synthesis strategy for metal nanoparticles by templating dense microemulsions is proposed. Particle size is controlled by surfactant size rather than by microemulsion composition. The strategy was demonstrated with various systems with different surfactant: cationic, anionic and non-ionic and of different sizes. Formulations were...

Conductive Graphitic Networks: From Atoms to Fuel Cells

Graphitic materials have attracted a great interest in the field of sustainable energy production and storage because of their excellent electrical, mechanical and chemical properties. This thesis modestly contributes to this global research by investigating new interconnected carbon nanostructures, here called Carbon Nano-Networks (CNNs). The...

Experimental and molecular dynamics characterization of dense microemulsion systems: Morphology, conductivity and SAXS

Microemulsions are exciting systems that are promising as tuneable self-assembling templating reaction vessels at the nanoscale. Determination of the nano-structure of microemulsions is, however, not trivial, and there are fundamental questions regarding their design. We were able to reproduce experimental data for an important microemulsion...

High yield, controlled synthesis of graphitic networks from dense micro emulsions

We report on the production of Carbon Nano Networks (CNNs) from dense microemulsions in which catalyst nanoparticles have been synthesized. CNNs are 3D carbon networks, consisting of branches and junctions, and are mesoporous, graphitic, and conductive being suitable as electrode materials.

Covalently, Non-Covalently and Non Functionalized Networked Graphitic Structures as robust catalyst support in PEM electrodes (abstract)

Networked Graphitic Structures Grown from Dense Microemulsions as High Performance Electrode Material (abstract)

Reversible Nanoparticle Formation As a Potential Strategy for PEMFC Catalyst Regeneration (abstract)

Stimulated-healing of proton exchange membrane fuel cell catalyst

Platinum nanoparticles, which are used as catalysts in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), tend to degrade after long-term operation. We discriminate the following mechanisms of the degradation: poisoning, migration and coalescence, dissolution, and electrochemical Ostwald ripening. There are two ways to tackle this problem. The first...