Carbon Nanomaterials:Building Blocks in Energy Conversion Devices

摘要

Carbon nanotubes,fullerenes,and mesoporous carbon structures constitute a new class of carbon nanomaterials with properties that differ significantly from other forms of carbon such as graphite and diamond.The ability to custom synthesize nanotubes with attached functional groups or to assemble fullerene (C_(60) and analogues) clusters into three-dimensional (3D) arrays has opened up new avenues to design high surface area catalyst supports and materials with high photochemical and electrochemical activity.Unlike the conventional graphite phase,carbon nanostructures possess metallic or semiconductor properties that can induce catalysis by participating directly in the charge transfer process.Further,the electrochemical properties of these materials facilitate modulation of their charge transfer properties and aid in the design of catalysts for hydrogenation,sensors,and fuel cells.