Synthesizing a Novel Janus Carbon Nano-Onions Modified As a Support for Electrocatalytic Nanoparticles

Tuesday, 15 October 2019
Grand Ballroom (The Hilton Atlanta)
A. Del Valle-Perez, K. M. Gonzalez-Aponte, J. Reyes-Morales (Universidad Ana G. Mendez), Y. N. Escalera-Torres (University of Puerto Rico), and L. Cunci Perez (Universidad Ana G. Mendez)
Carbon materials have been awakening scientific interest for research because it allows chemical functionalization for multiple applications in the sciences, especially in energy applications. Carbon Nano-onions (CNO) are spherical structures composed of multilayers of fullerenes, these layers are connected in a way that show a shape of an onion. Its development begins with the use of nano-diamonds, a carbon material of strong structure which it forms in a very violent environment. The nano-diamonds are taken to a furnace at a temperature of 1650°C to finally obtain the CNO. Janus particles are receiving increasing attention because of their dual properties, where each side can be functionalized to have distinctive characteristics. The modifications on the surface of these nanoparticles can provide different chemical and physical properties. The interesting properties about Janus nanoparticles are that they have different sizes and shapes which have now been able to be studied in more detail. The modifications on the surface of these nanoparticles can provide different chemical and physical properties. The purpose of this project is to use asymmetrically modified CNO as a support for metal nanoparticles to avoid agglomeration and, thus, increase their surface area and efficiency. Janus nanoparticles will be designed by a wax-paraffin pickering emulsion process using CNO on its surface. The deposition of Platinum (Pt) it was carried out by an electrochemical process using the Rotating Disk Electrode. The removal process of the paraffin involves the dispersion of the wax-paraffin/CNO-Pt particles in Chloroform and rinse with ethanol to finally obtain the amphiphilic nanoparticle. The differences on the surface of the particles before and after removing the paraffin were observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy was used to validate the elemental information of the particles and assure the deposition of 20% of Pt on the surface of the particles. The Chronoamperometry technique was used for the reduction process of Pt. This process was carried out at a potential of -0.2v for 4 hours. Cyclic Voltammetry was used to characterize the surface of the electrode providing information about what is happening on the electrode surface. It was possible to validate that the Pt deposition process is taking place on the particles and not on the surface of the electrode. The voltammogram show the differences before and after the electrodeposition of Pt on the wax-paraffin/CNO particles. Thermogravimetric Analysis were used as a characterization technique to corroborate 20% of Pt on these particles. Characterization techniques as X-ray Diffraction and Raman Spectroscopy was used to validate the deposition of Pt on the particles.