Tuning the functionality of a carbon nanofiber-Pt-RuO2 system from charge storage to electrocatalysis.

Chemical-functionalization-induced switching in the property of a hybrid system composed of a hollow carbon nanofiber (CNF) and Pt and RuO(2) nanoparticles from charge storage to electrocatalysis is presented. The results of this study show how important it is to have a clear understanding of the nature of surface functionalities in the processes involving dispersion of more than one component on various substrates including carbon nanomorphologies. When pristine CNF is used to decorate Pt and RuO(2) nanoparticles, random dispersion occurs on the CNF surface (C-PtRuO(2)). This results in mainly phase-separated nanoparticles rich in RuO(2) characteristics. In contrast to this, upon moving from the pristine CNF to those activated by a simple H(2)O(2) treatment to create oxygen-containing surface functional groups, a material rich in Pt features on the surface is obtained (F-PtRuO(2)). This is achieved because of the preferential adsorption of RuO(2) by the functionalized surface of CNF. A better affinity of the oxygen-containing functional groups on CNF toward RuO(2) mobilizes relatively faster adsorption of this moiety, leading to a well-controlled segregation of Pt nanoparticles toward the surface. Further reorganization of Pt nanoparticles leads to the formation of a Pt nanosheet structure on the surface. The electrochemical properties of these materials are initially evaluated using cyclic voltammetric analysis. The cyclic voltammetric results indicate that C-PtRuO(2) shows a charge storage property, a typical characteristic of hydrous RuO(2), whereas F-PtRuO(2) shows an oxygen reduction property, which is the characteristic feature of Pt. This clear switch in the behavior from charge storage to electrocatalysis is further confirmed by galvanostatic charge-discharge and rotating-disk-electrode studies.

Significant enhancement of formic acid oxidation using rhodium nanostructures.

The electrocatalytic activity of as-synthesized shape selective Rh nanostructures has been demonstrated using cyclic voltammetry, revealing unique shape-dependant performance towards HCOOH oxidation. Interestingly, the enhancement factor (R) for different shapes of Rh with respect to that of commercial Rh towards formic acid oxidation ranges up to 20,000% for cubes as compared to 17,500% for pyramids and 11,000% for hexagons respectively. Mechanistic pathway for comparatively better sensitivity of cubes as compared to other shapes has been correlated with the results of X-ray diffraction.

One-dimensional confinement of a nanosized metal organic framework in carbon nanofibers for improved gas adsorption.

The loading of a Zn-terephthalate based MOF in the inner cavity as well as on the outer walls of a hollow carbon nanofiber (CNF) creates MOF@CNF hybrids. This hybrid ''MOF@CNF'' displayed improved thermal stability as well as gas adsorption compared to the individual counterparts.

High aspect ratio nanoscale multifunctional materials derived from hollow carbon nanofiber by polymer insertion and metal decoration.

A novel high aspect ratio material which can simultaneously display multiple functions such as proton and electron conductivity and electrocatalytic activity has been developed by incorporating both platinum nanoparticles and phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole along the inner and outer surfaces of a hollow carbon nanofiber.