Highly oxidation-resistant graphene-based porous carbon as a metal catalyst support

• Main Authors: Shuwen Wang, Yasunori Yoshikawa, Zhipeng Wang, Hideki Tanaka, Katsumi Kaneko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-04-01
• Series: Carbon Trends
• Subjects: Oxidation-resistant; Catalyst support; Graphitizable carbon; Porous graphene
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667056921000067

Porous graphene (PG) prepared from reduction and KOH activation of graphene oxide was heat-treated under argon atmosphere to obtain a partially graphitized porous carbon with high oxidation resistance. Transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and N2 adsorption isotherms (77 K) clearly illustrate the structural ordering and porosity change of PG under heat treatment. Pitch-based activated carbon fiber (ACF) was studied for comparison. PG is more graphitizable than ACF under heat treatment because it consists of highly flexible graphene units of larger size than those in ACF. Thermogravimetric studies indicate that heat treatment enhances more the thermal stability of PG than ACF, and metal-loading has a less detrimental effect on the thermal stability of heat-treated PG than heat-treated ACF and other reported carbon supports. Heat-treated PG shows great superiority to other carbon supports due to its both splendid oxidation resistance and high surface area. This study provides a promising route for the preparation of carbon-based catalyst supports for mild oxidative environments.