The electrocatalytic activity of nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (N-CNFs), which are synthesized directly from vaporized acetonitrile over nickel-iron based catalysts, for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), was investigated. The nitrogen content and specific surface area of N-CNFs can be controlled through the synthesis temperature (300-680 degrees C). The graphitization degree of N-CNFs also are significantly affected by the temperature, whereas the chemical compositions of nitrogen species are similar irrespective of the synthesis conditions. From measurement of the electrochemical double layer capacitance, the surface of N-CNFs is found to have stronger interaction with ions than undoped-carbon surfaces. Although N-CNFs show higher over-potential than Pt catalysts do, N-CNFs were observed to have a noticeable ORR activity, as opposed to the carbon samples without nitrogen doping. The activity dependency of N-CNFs on the content of the nitrogen with which they were doped is discussed, based on the experiment results. The single cell of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) was tested to investigate the performance of a membrane-electrode assembly that includes N-CNFs as the cathode catalyst layer.

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An easy method to synthesize SiOx coated carbon nanotubes (SiOx-CNT) through thermal decomposition of polycarbomethylsilane adsorbed on the surface of CNTs is reported. Physical properties of SiOx-CNT samples depending on various Si contents and synthesis conditions are examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen isotherm, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Morphology of the SiOx-CNT appears to be perfectly identical to that of the pristine CNT. It is confirmed that SiOx is formed in a thin layer of approximately 1 nm thickness over the surface of CNTs. The specific surface area is significantly increased by the coating, because thin layer of SiOx is highly porous. The surface properties such as porosity and thickness of SiOx layers are found to be controlled by SiOx contents and heat treatment conditions. The preparation method in this study is to provide useful nano-hybrid composite materials with multi-functional surface properties.

Pt-Pd catalyst supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanofiber (N-CNF) was prepared and evaluated as a cathode electrode of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The N-CNF, which was directly synthesized by the catalytic chemical vapor deposition from acetonitrile at 640 °C, was verified as having a change of electrochemical surface properties such as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities and the electrochemical double layer compared with common carbon black (CB). To attain the competitive oxygen reduction reaction activity with methanol tolerance, the Pt and Pd metals were supported on the CB or the N-CNF. The physical and electrochemical characteristics of the N-CNF–supported Pt-Pd catalyst were examined and compared with catalyst supported on the CB. In addition, DMFC single cells using these catalysts as the cathode electrode were applied to obtain I-V polarization curves and constant current operating performances with high-concentration methanol as the fuel. Pt-Pd catalysts had obvious ORR activity even in the presence of methanol. The higher power density was obtained at all the methanol concentrations when it applied to the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of the DMFC. When the N-CNF is used as the catalyst support material, a better performance with high-concentration methanol is expected.

In this study, a high density carbon block without binder was manufactured by mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) from coal tar pitch. To develop the high density carbon block without a binder, MCMBs were oxidized at different levels of temperature. To verify the effect of oxygen content in the carbonized carbon block (CCB), an elementary analysis (EA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were performed. The morphological and mechanical properties of the CCBs were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a shore hardness test, and a flexural strength evaluation. The results revealed that the oxygen content increased with stabilization temperature and the physical properties of the CCBs were considerably improved via oxidative stabilization. Small cracks between MCMB particles were observed in the CCBs that were stabilized over 250 °C. From the results of this study, the CCB from MCMBs stabilized at 200 °C for 1 h showed optimum mechanical properties and high density.