Open-cage Fullerene-like Graphitic Carbons as Catalysts for Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Isobutane

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja900888p· OSTI ID:958966

Liang, Chengdu ^[1]; Xie, Hong ^[1]; Schwartz, Viviane ^[1]; Howe, Jane Y ^[1]; Dai, Sheng ^[1]

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1. ORNL

We report herein a facile synthesis of fullerene-like cages, which can be opened and closed through simple thermal treatments. A glassy carbon with enclosed fullerene-like cages of 2-3 nm was synthesized through a soft-template approach that created open mesopores of 7 nm. The open mesopores provided access to the fullerene-like cages, which were opened and closed through heat treatments in air and inert gas at various temperatures. Catalytic measurements showed that the open cages displayed strikingly higher activity for the oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane in comparison to the close ones. We anticipate that this synthesis approach could unravel an avenue for pursuing fundamental understanding of the unique catalytic properties of graphitic carbon nanostructures.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 958966
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 131; ISSN JACSAT; ISSN 0002-7863
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

2-METHYLPROPANE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
AIR
CARBON
CATALYSTS
DEHYDROGENATION
HEAT TREATMENTS
NANOSTRUCTURES
SYNTHESIS