Papers by Author: Renzo Marazzi

Abstract: Carbon nanostructures are under deep investigation due their peculiar properties and possible applications. In particular, development of new methods for the synthesis of these materials and their mechanism of formation represent interesting research fields. Arc discharge allows to produce different forms of carbon nanostructures. The parameters involved in the process, voltage, current density, type and pressure of the surrounding gas can be controlled especially for achieving high quantity of material with enhanced characteristics in terms of purity while the use of transition metal-graphite mixtures has been used to produce single wall structures. Moreover direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) are suitable for producing carbon nano-materials, but different results can be obtained. In this work the effect of the power frequency in an AC arc discharge technique on the synthesis of carbon nanostructures is reported. Pure graphite electrodes have been arched in air in an homemade apparatus where the material can be collected directly on a cylindrical collector fixed near the arc. In order to avoid the formation of deposits under the arc a symmetrical configuration of the electrodes has been set. The production of carbon soot containing Single Wall Nanohorns (SWNH) and highly convoluted graphene sheets is optimized. The range of power frequencies 32-1000Hz has been investigated and the arcs have been ignited fixing the voltage at 28 V. The materials has been analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope and high resolution transmission electron microscope. The microstructure of the material synthesized by this apparatus is affected by the power frequency, as the experimental results demonstrate. The samples produced at low frequency presented high amounts of single wall structures, SWNH-type. More compact structures, similar to large onion-like structures, have been found in samples synthesized at high frequency values.

Abstract: One of the factors limiting direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) performance is the slow kinetics of methanol oxidation at the anode. The importance of the catalyst support for fuel cells has been recognized and different forms of carbon have been suggested. Single wall nanohorns (SWNH) are a new class of carbon with a similar graphitic structure of carbon nanotubes. They are self-assembling materials that produce aggregates of about 100 nm. In the present study, the comparison of the performance of a DMFC equipped with electrocatalysts supported on a commercial carbon black and on SWNH was carried out. The SWNH were synthesized by the arc discharge method in air. The deposition of the Pt and Pt/Ru catalysts on the carbon supports was accomplished by using ethylene glycol as reducing agent. The synthesized catalyst nanoparticles have a very small diameter size (ca. 2.5 nm) and they are uniformly distributed on both carbon supports. The supported electrode catalysts were tested in a DMFC and results indicate that employing SWNH is very promising showing catalytic activities 60 % higher.

Abstract: Carbon nanohorns and multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been synthesized by DC arcdischarge carried out at room pressure in air and Ar-enriched environment, by a specially designed experimental device. The resulting nanostructured material, characterized by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, shows different structures according to the condensation channels through which the sublimated carbon atoms are re-condensed in the solid state. Multi-Walled Carbon Nano- Tubes are mainly found in the hard crust formed at the cathode, while nano-horned particles can be recovered from a cylindrical collector surrounding the discharge. Further material, rag-like shaped and with an amorphous structure, can be collected in the reaction area. When the discharge occurs under Ar atmosphere, a larger quantity of this latter phase is synthesized. This suggests that the atmospheric oxygen could play an active role by burning the most reactive among the synthesized phases, like amorphous carbon contributing so to an “in situ” purification of the raw material.