Pt/onion-like fullerenes as catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell

Onion-like fullerenes synthesized by arc discharge in water were used as support of Pt nanoparticles as electrocatalytic materials for direct methanol fuel cell. Uniform platinum nanoparticles with the average diameter of about 4.3 nm were well dispersed on the surface of onion-like fullerenes by impregnation-reduction method. The morphologies and microstructures of the as-prepared composites were studied by means of XRD and TEM. Electrochemical analysis shows that this kind of nano material may be an excellent candidate to be used as the support of catalyst for methanol electrochemical oxidation.

Studies on Preparation of Onion-like Fullerenes by Vacuum Heat-treatment

Onion-like Fullerenes were produced at high-temperature in vacuum. The morphology of the carbon nano onion-like fullerenes was examined and characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). It can be seen that the nano-sized, onion-like fullerenes possess high degree of graphization. The results suggested that the catalyst is the main factor affecting the size and yield of the fullerenes. The method is very promising for simple mass production.

Fullerenes and derivatives as electrocatalysts: Promises and challenges

Carbon-based metal-free nanomaterials are promising alternatives to precious metals as electrocatalysts of key energy storage and conversion technologies.Of paramount significance are the establishment of design principles by understanding the catalytic mechanisms and identifying the active sites.Distinct from sp2-conjugated graphene and carbon nanotube,fullerene possesses unique characteristics that are growingly being discovered and exploited by the electrocatalysis community.For instance,the well-defined atomic and molecular structures,the good electron affinity to tune the electronic structures of other substances,the intermolecular self-assembly into superlattices,and the on-demand chemical modification have endowed fullerene with incomparable advantages as electrocatalysts that are otherwise not applicable to other carbon ma-terials.As increasing studies are being reported on this intriguing topic,it is necessary to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the recent progress.This review takes such an initiative by summarizing the promises and challenges in the electrocatalytic applications of fullerene and its derivatives.The content is structured according to the composition and structure of fullerene,including intact fullerene(e.g.,fullerene composite and superlattices)and fullerene derivatives(e.g.,doped,endohedral,and disintegrated fullerene).The synthesis,characterization,catalytic mechanisms,and deficiencies of these fullerene-based materials are explicitly elaborated.We conclude it by sharing our perspectives on the key aspects that future efforts shall consider.

Synthesis of nano onion-like fullerenes by using Fe/Al_2O_3 as catalyst by chemical vapor deposition

Nano-carbon materials were synthesized by the catalytic decomposition of acetylene at 400℃ by using Fe/Al2O3 as catalyst. The product was refluxed in 36% concentrated HCl at 60℃ for 48 h in order to re-move the catalyst support. The samples were examined by scanning and high resolution transmission electron microscopy,energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results show that nano onion-like fullerenes encapsulating a Fe3C core were obtained. These had a structure of stacked graphitic fragments,with diameters ranging from 15―50 nm. When the product was further heat-treated at 1100℃ for 2 h,nano onion-like fullerenes with a clear concentric graphitic layer structure were obtained. The growth mechanism of nano onion-like fullerenes encapsulating metal cores is suggested to follow a vapor-solid growth model.

Fullerenes中文定名的建议

一）Ｆｕｌｅｒｅｎｅｓ一词仍无令人满意的中文译名，我们曾经建议采用“球碳”或“”的译名，下面先简述提出“球碳”为译名的理由。（１）Ｆｕｌｅｒｅｎｅｓ只含碳元素，是石墨和金刚石的同素异形体，不是化合物，因此称其为“某某碳”是合情合理的。“某某碳”按汉...

Fullerenes的光化学与光物理性质

本文对Fullerenes自发现以来在光化学和光物理领域的研究进展,以及它的分离方法进行了综述。

Fullerenes分子的键构规则

Fullerenes分子是科学家在研究碳原子簇过程中发现的一类崭新的有机分子,简单情形是C60。Fullerenes及其衍生物为碳化学打开了—个广阔天地,同时也为固体物理学提供了一个新的研究领域。它还将为材料科学带来新的机会。尽管化学家和物理学家为这类新奇的原子簇勾画了许多理论图象,但关于其键构的—般性规则的研究仍然太少。

Determination of Fullerenes (C60/C70) from the Permian-Triassic Boundary in the Meishan Section of South China

Fullerenes (C 60 /C 70 ), clays and rocks near the Permian-Triassic (P/T) boundary in the Meishan section of South China are explored by means of comprehensive analytical techniques, including ultrasonic extraction with column purification, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of- flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS). The study confirms the existence of fullerenes toward the P/T event boundary and their absence in clays and limestones beyond the boundary. In particular, the white clay, known as the event boundary, contains fullerenes of 0.33 ppb, while the red material, as the first lamina fill of goethite and gypsum on the base of the white clay, contains fullerenes of 1.23 ppb, and the last lamina of 2.50 ppb. Significantly, distinct enrichment of fullerenes is coincident with the disappearance of fossil records of marine species (94%) just at the base of the white clay, implying that geological fullerenes would be one of temporal remnants led by the P/T catastrophic event. This work strongly supports that fullerenes would be one of significant records of the P/T catastrophic event but their origin remains to be studied further.

New Solution Method of Pi-Orbital Axis Vector and Its Applications in Fullerenes and Carbon Nanotubes

A new solution method to perform the pi-orbital axis vector analysis was developed in this paper. The model of circular cone was built and the solution equations of the pyramidalization angle were obtained based on the model and the space analytic geometry. Our method merely requires the atomic coordinates of the conjugated central atom and the three attached atoms. Moreover, systematic calculations on the pyramidalization angles of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes were performed using the method we developed. The relationship of pyramidalization angle and the stability for the carbon cages and tubes was also discussed.

Fullerenes for rechargeable battery applications:Recent developments and future perspectives

The development of high-performance batteries is inseparable from the exploration of new materials.Among them,fullerene C60 as an allotrope of carbon has many unique properties that are beneficial for battery applications,including precise structure,controllable derivatization,good solubility,and rich redox chemistry.In this review,we summarize the recent progress of fullerene-based materials in the field of rechargeable batteries and the key issues that need to be solved in the future application of fullerene.We hope this review can provide guidance and stimulate research about the applications of fullerenes in the field of energy storage.

High stability of the goldalloy fullerenes:A density functional theory investigation of M_(12)@Au_(20)(M=Na,Al,Ag,Sc,Y,La,Lu,and Au) clusters

Discovering highly stable metal fullerenes such as the celebrated C 60 is interesting in cluster science as they have potential applications as building blocks in new nanostructures.We here investigated the structural and electronic properties of the fullerenes M 12 @Au 20（M=Na,Al,Ag,Sc,Y,La,Lu,and Au）,using a first-principles investigation with the density functional theory.It is found that these compound clusters possess a similar cage structure to the icosahedral Au 32 fullerene.La 12 @Au 20 is found to be particularly stable among these clusters.The binding energy of La 12 @Au 20 is 3.43 eV per atom,1.05 eV larger than that in Au 32.The highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital（HOMO-LUMO） gap of La 12 @Au 20 is only 0.31 eV,suggesting that it should be relatively chemically reactive.

Evaluation of Transient Absorption Spectra of N, N, N, N- Tetra - ( p -methylphenyl ) - 4, 4- diamino - 1, 1- diphenyl Ether ( TPDAE ) for Electron Transfer from TPDAE to Fullerenes ( C_(60) / C_(70) ) by Laser Flash Photolysis

Photoinduced electron transfer processes between fullerenes (C60 / C70) and N, N, N, N tetra - ( p-methylphenyl ) - 4, 4 diamino - 1, 1- diphenyl ether ( TPDAE ) have been studied by nanosecond laser flash photolysis. Quantum yields and rate constants of electron transfer from TPDAE to excited triplet state of fullerenes (C60 / C70 ) in benzonitrile have been evaluated by observing the transient absorption bands in the near-IR region where the excited triplet state, radical anion of fullerenes ( C60 / C70 ) and radical cations of TPDAE appear.

BET Surface Area and Porous Structure of Fullerenes and Fullerene Soots

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＡｆａｓｃｉｎａｔｉｎｇｓｏｌｉｄｂｌａｃｋｃｏｎｄｅｎｓａｔｅ（ｈｅｒｅｃａｌｅｄｆｕｌｅｒｅｎｅｓｏｏｔ）ｉｓｇｅｎｅｒａｔｅｄｉｎｔｈｅｇａｓｐｈａｓｅａｎｄｄｅｐｏｓｉｔｅｄｄｕｒｉｎｇｔｈｅｄｉｓｃｈａｒｇｅｉｎａＫ...

Plasma-Chemical Synthesis of Nanosized Powders-Nitrides,Carbides,Oxides,Carbon Nanotubes and Fullerenes

In this article the plasma-chemical synthesis of nanosized powders （nitrides, car- bides, oxides, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes） is reviewed. Nanosized powders - nitrides, carbides, oxides, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes have been successfully produced using different techniques, technological apparatuses and conditions for their plasma-chemical synthesis.

Theoretical Studies on Structures and Properties of Endohedral Fullerenes Complexes: XH_n@C_(32)(X=F, O, N, C; n=1―4)

Theoretical studies on structures and properties of endohedral fullerene complexes formed by encapsulating small molecules of HF, H20, NH3, and CH4 in a C32 fullerene cage, were carried out by ab initio method. Current calculations reveal that these processes to encase them in fullerene are energetically unfavorable because of the small cavity size of C32. The red shift in the F-H stretching frequency indicates the potential existence of hydrogen bonding between the HF molecule and the carbon cage.

On the ECI and CEI of Boron-Nitrogen Fullerenes

The eccentric connectivity index and connective eccentricity index are important topological indices for chemistry. In this paper, we investigate the eccentric connectivity index and connective eccentricity index of boron-nitrogen fullerenes, respectively. And we give computing formulas of eccentric connectivity index and connective eccentricity index of all boron-nitrogen fullerenes with regular structure.

Fabrication of Onion-like Carbon Using Nanodiamond by Annealing at Lower Temperature and Vacuum

Onion-like carbon （OLC） was fabricated by annealing nanodiamond at 1000 ℃ for 2 hours in low vacuum （1 Pa）. The OLC was characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, high resolution transmission electron microscopy （HRTEM）, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR）, Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）. The experimental results show that the OLC exhibits similarity to the original nanodiamond particles in shape. The size of the OLC is found to be approximately 5 nm. The transformation mechanism of the OLC from nanodiamond was discussed also.

Properties of Boron-Substituted Heterofullerenes

On the basis of a succinct description of geometrical configurations for giant fullerenes,the electronic properties and structural distortions of heterofullerenes C_(N-1)B(N=60,180,240,420,540,720,780)are analyzed by the extended Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model.In comparison with their pristine fullerenes CN,local distortions and mid-gap states are found to occur in boron-doped giant fullerenes.

Single Covalent Bonding Structure in Fullerenes, Carbon Nanotubes and Closed Nanotubes

The present paper deals with carbon in highly organized solids like graphene and its three-dimensional derivatives: fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and capped carbon nanotubes. It proposes an alternative to the typical bonding pattern exposed in literature. This novel bonding pattern involves alternating positively and negatively charged carbon atoms around hexagonal rings, then a few uncharged and partially bonded atoms close to the pentagon rings. The article focuses on fullerenes inscribed into a regular icosahedron, then addressing the most common fullerenes like C60. Carbon atoms are found to have predominantly three single bonds and less often two separated single bonds. The same pattern explains equally well carbon nanotubes and closed-tip nanotubes, of which C70 is a special case.

HPLC separation of higher fullerenes in the synthetical "graphite smokes" soot

Higher fullerenes(C84,C90,C92,C94 and C96) were successfully isolated from the Soxhlet extract of the synthetical "Graphote Smokes" soot(GS sample) by using a big Cosmosil Buckysep(Phenomenex) column(250 mm × 10 mm) with a large injection.The fractions isolated have been determined by high performance liquid chro-matography(HPLC) and laser desorption mass spectrometry(LDMS).It is found that there are different fullerenes molecules in different fractions with retention time.The result indicates that fullerenes do exist in GS samples.Also,it excludes the suspicion to some extent that fullerene molecules might be generated by the laser desorption process in the LDMS.In addition,it also provides the experimental basis for the study of natural higher fullerenes and might be helpful to figure out the question if higher fullerenes do exist in the natural samples.