Nanoporous carbon: Liquid-free synthesis and geometry dependent catalytic performance

DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b09399

Authors: Ruoyu Xu (University College London (UCL)) , Liqun Kang (University College London) , Johannes Knossalla (Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung) , Jerrik Mielby (Technical University of Denmark) , Qiming Wang (University College London (UCL)) , Bolun Wang (University College London (UCL)) , Junrun Feng (University College London (UCL)) , Guanjie He (University College London) , Yudao Qin (University College London) , Jijia Xie (University College London) , Ann-Christin Swertz (Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung) , Qian He (Cardiff University) , Søren Kegnæs (Technical University of Denmark) , Dan J.l. Brett (University College London) , Ferdi Schüth (Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung) , Feng Ryan Wang (University College London)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Acs Nano

State: Published (Approved)
Published: January 2019
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 206191 , 15151

Abstract: Nanostructured carbons with different pore geometries are prepared with a liquid-free nanocasting method. The method uses gases instead of liquid to disperse carbon precursor, leach templates and remove impurities, minimizing synthetic procedures and the use of chemicals. The method is universal and demonstrated by the synthesis of 12 different porous carbons with various template sources. The effects of pore geometries in catalysis can be isolated and investigated. Two of the resulted materials with different pore geometries are studied as supports for Ru clusters in the hydrogenolysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and electrochemical hydrogen evolution (HER). The porous carbon supported Ru catalysts outperform commercial ones in both reactions. It was found that Ru on bottle-neck pore carbon shows highest yield in hydrogenolysis of HMF to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) due to a better confinement effect. A wide temperature operation window from 110 °C to 140 °C, with over 75% yield and 98% selectivity of DMF has been achieved. Tubular pores enable fast charge transfer in electrochemical HER, requiring only 16 mV overpotential to reach current density of 10 mA cm.

Journal Keywords: nanoporous carbon; liquid-free synthesis; pore geometry; biomass conversion hydrogen evolution reaction

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Energy


Instruments: B18-Core EXAFS , E01-JEM ARM 200CF

Added On: 21/01/2019 11:28

Documents:
a54655csnano.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Earth Sciences & Environment Sustainable Energy Systems Energy Climate Change Physical Chemistry Catalysis Chemistry Nanoscience/Nanotechnology

Technical Tags:

Spectroscopy X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES)