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A deuterium-labeled temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) technique was developed to accurately characterize functional groups on the surface of carbon-based materials. After the protic hydrogen of the functional groups on activated carbons was substituted by deuterium, TPD analysis revealed the desorption of deuterium compounds (D 2 O, DHO, D 2 , DH). The functional groups were estimated from the predicted desorption mechanisms of these deuterium compounds, which can be distinguished according to the functional groups and their surrounding chemical structures. Thus, this technique provides information on not only the type of functional groups but also the extensive chemical structure around them. The phenolic group, ether, and edge hydrogen formed on the activated carbons were separately quantified, and the functional groups were further classified into 12 types by the nearby chemical structures. Comparison with IR spectra indicated that the deuterium-labeled TPD gave qualitatively reasonable results. This technique is useful for obtaining a deeper understanding of the surface chemical structure of carbon-based materials. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Influences of the pore structure and the surface functionality of carbon substrates on the formation of ZSM-5 nanoparticles were studied. The inorganic substance formed on these carbons were identified as ZSM-5 by X-ray diffraction, which also revealed the presence of an amorphous silica phase. The fraction of crystalline phase, which was evaluated from XRD, was not affected by the pore structure; however, inorganic content depended on the pore structure of carbon: i.e. 14–17% for non- and microporous carbons, and 40–55% for mesoporous carbons. TEM observation revealed that the ZSM-5 deposited on these carbon substrates was in the form of nanoparticles with 10–20nm of diameters. The influence of the surface functionality on the formation of ZSM-5 nanoparticles was also studied with an activated carbon, of which surface functionality was modified by heat-treatment and nitric acid-treatment. A strong dependence of the fraction of crystalline phase on the treatments was observed; i.e. the heat-treatment increased the fraction and the acid-treatment decreased it. Finally, we clarified the controlling factors for the formation of ZSM-5 on carbon materials; the mesoporous surface area of carbon strongly affects the inorganic content and the total acidity of carbon influences the selectivity to ZSM-5 formation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Carbon catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were prepared from mixtures of humic acid and cobalt compounds. To examine the effects of cobalt and nitrogen on the ORR, cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc), cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 ) and phthalocyanine (H 2 Pc) were mixed with the humic acid and carbonized at 800 °C. The carbons were washed with hydrochloric acid to remove metals on the surface of the carbons. The carbon prepared by mixing HA, CoCl 2 and H 2 Pc (HA–CoCl 2 –H 2 Pc) had the highest ORR activity, while the carbons, HA–CoPc and HA–H 2 Pc, had lower ORR activities. HA–CoCl 2 had moderate activity. The results imply that both of cobalt and nitrogen are important to obtain ORR catalysts with higher activities. A uniform distribution of Co atoms in the precursor is also important to obtain carbon alloy catalysts with higher ORR activities. TANSO 2015 (No. 267), 94–100. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]