High-Performance Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Electrodes using Solid-Phase-Synthesized Carbon Nanocoils

摘要

Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes by Iijima in 1991, nanostructured carbonmaterials have attracted tremendous attention for their possible applications in electron field emitters, catalytic supports, nanocomposites, quantum electronic devices, and electrode materials. Herein we report on the synthesis of carbon nanocoils composed of nanometer thick graphitic fibers by the catalytic graphitization of a resorcinol-formaldehyde gel. The carbon nanocoils were successfully applied as electrode materials for direct methanol fuel cells. Many forms of nanostructured carbon materials including carbon nanotubes, graphitic carbon nanofibers (GCNFs), and carbon onions were produced using various gas-phase reactions. Arc discharge, laser evaporation, and thermal chemical vapor deposition are the typical techniques used to produce the materials. However, these synthetic methods have limitations in terms of large-scale and economical production because of their harsh synthetic conditions and low production yields.