Generation of carbon nano-onions by laser irradiation of gaseous hydrocarbons for high durability catalyst support in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Je Hyeon Yeon; Sei Jin Park; Indae Choi; Mansoo Choi

Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol.80, 65-73, December, 2019

DOI10.1016/j.jiec.2019.07.032 Export Citation

Generation of carbon nano-onions by laser irradiation of gaseous hydrocarbons for high durability catalyst support in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Je Hyeon Yeon^{1, 2}, Sei Jin Park¹, Indae Choi^{1, †}, and Mansoo Choi^{1, 2, †}

¹Global Frontier Center for Multiscale Energy Systems, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
²Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea

E-mail:,

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are promising zero emission power sources that typically use precious noble metals such as platinum as catalysts. Due to the expensive catalyst material costs, the durability of catalyst support material is vital PEMFC systems. Carbon nano-onions (CNOs) are spherical multi-shelled fullerenes that have higher quality graphitic layers with less defects, leading to better resistance to carbon corrosion. Here, we show that CNOs produced by laser pyrolysis can be used instead of commonly used carbon black, Vulcan XC-72, as the catalyst support material. Both cells have similar initial performance, but CNO based cell is better able to maintain power output in harsh operating conditions.

Keywords:Carbon nano-onion (CNO);Laser pyrolysis;In-situ controllable system;Catalyst support material;Proton exchange membrane fuel cell;Accelerated stress test (AST)

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[2] Steele BCH, Heinzel A, Mater. Sustain. Energy, 414, 224 (2010)

[3] Rabis A, Rodriguez P, Schmidt TJ, ACS Catal., 2(5), 864 (2012)

[4] Zhang L, Zhang JJ, Wilkinson DP, Wang HJ, J. Power Sources, 156(2), 171 (2006)

[5] Chen W, Chen S, Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit., 48(24), 4386 (2009)

[6] Soo LT, Loh KS, Mohamad AB, Daud WRW, Wong WY, Appl. Catal. A: Gen., 497, 198 (2015)

[7] Andersen SM, Borghei M, Lund P, Elina YR, Pasanen A, Kauppinen E, Ruiz V, Kauranen P, Skou EM, Solid State Ion., 231, 94 (2013)

[8] Rajalakshmi N, Ryu H, Shaijumon MM, Ramaprabhu S, J. Power Sources, 140(2), 250 (2005)

[9] Wang X, Li WZ, Chen ZW, Waje M, Yan YS, J. Power Sources, 158(1), 154 (2006)

[10] Yang W, Yang S, Guo J, Sun G, Xin Q, Carbon, 45(2), 397 (2007)

[11] Lv RT, Cui TX, Jun MS, Zhang Q, Cao AY, Su DS, Zhang ZJ, Yoon SH, Miyawaki J, Mochida I, Kang FY, Adv. Funct. Mater., 21(5), 999 (2011)

[12] Shukla PR, Wang SB, Sun HQ, Ang HM, Tade M, Appl. Catal. B: Environ., 100(3-4), 529 (2010)

[13] Jaouen F, Lefevre M, Dodelet JP, Cai M, J. Phys. Chem. B, 110(11), 5553 (2006)

[14] Bartolome JP, Fragoso A, Fullerenes Nanotub. Carbon Nanostruct., 25(5), 327 (2017)

[15] Xu BS, Yang XW, Wang XM, Guo JJ, Liu XG, J. Power Sources, 162(1), 160 (2006)

[16] Kannari N, Itakura T, Ozaki JI, Carbon, 87(C), 415 (2015)

[17] Sano GAJAN, Wang H, Chhowalla M, Alexandrou I, Nature, 414(6863), 506 (2001)

[18] Kim SM, Heo YK, Bae KT, Oh YT, Lee MH, Lee SY, Carbon, 101, 420 (2016)

[19] Chen XH, Yang HS, Wu GT, Wang M, Deng FM, Zhang XB, Peng JC, Li WZ, J. Cryst. Growth, 218(1), 57 (2000)

[20] Cabioc’h T, Jaouen M, Thune E, Guerin P, Fayoux C, Denanot M, Surf. Coat. Technol., 128-129, 43 (2000)

[21] Gao Y, Zhou YS, Qian M, He XN, Redepenning J, Goodman P, Li HM, Jiang L, Lu YF, Carbon, 51(1), 52 (2013)

[22] Choi M, Altman IS, Kim YJ, Pikhitsa PV, Lee S, Park GS, Jeong T, Yoo JB, Adv. Mater., 16(19), 1721 (2004)

[23] Zhang C, Li J, Liu E, He C, Shi C, Du X, Hauge RH, Zhao N, Carbon, 50(10), 3513 (2012)

[24] Kuznetsov VL, Butenko YV, Chuvilin AL, Romanenko AI, Okotrub AV, Chem. Phys. Lett., 336(5-6), 397 (2001)

[25] Pech D, Brunet M, Durou H, Huang PH, Mochalin V, Gogotsi Y, Taberna PL, Simon P, Nat. Nanotechnol., 5(9), 651 (2010)

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[27] Ohma ADA, Shinohara K, Iiyama A, Yoshida T, ECS Trans, 41(1), 775 (2011)

[28] Sheen S, Yang S, Jun K, Pikhitsa PV, Choi M, Powder Technol., 229, 246 (2012)

[29] Portet C, Yushin G, Gogotsi Y, Carbon, 45(13), 2511 (2007)

[30] CaAado LG, Takai K, Enoki T, Endo M, Kim YA, Mizusaki H, Jorio A, Coelho LN, Magalhaes-Paniago R, Pimenta MA, Appl. Phys. Lett., 88(16), 2 (2006)

[31] Hao GP, Sahraie NP, Zhang Q, Krause S, Oschatz M, Bachmatiuk A, Strasser P, Kaskel S, Chem. Commun., 51(97), 17285 (2015)

[32] Jung UH, Park KT, Park EH, Kim SH, J. Power Sources, 159(1), 529 (2006)

[33] Zhu J, Holmen A, Chen D, ChemCatChem, 5(2), 378 (2013)

[34] Maass S, Finsterwalder F, Frank G, Hartmann R, Merten C, J. Power Sources, 176(2), 444 (2008)

[35] Castanheira L, Silva WO, Lima FHB, Crisci A, Dubau L, Maillard F, ACS Catal., 5(4), 2184 (2015)

[36] Castanheira L, Dubau L, Mermoux M, Berthome G, Caque N, Rossinot E, Chatenet M, Maillard F, ACS Catal., 4(7), 2258 (2014)

[37] Sharif Sh M, Golestani-Fard F, Sarpoolaky H, J. Alloy. Compd., 482(1-2), 361 (2009)

[38] Kim IT, Lee JY, Rim HR, Lee HK, Shim J, Int. J. Electrochem. Sci., 10(11), 9131 (2015)