Cesium-Catalyzed Restructuring of Amorphous Nanoporous Carbon into Well-Ordered Fullerene-Like Nanodomains: A Soft Chemical Transition of a Solid from Disorder to Order

摘要建议标题：铯催化无定形纳米多孔碳重组为有序的富勒烯类纳米结构域：固体从无序到有序的软化学转变建议编号：CTS-0074649首席研究员：Henry Foley研究所：宾夕法尼亚州立大学这项提议的目标是研究一种将无定形碳转化为更有序结构的低温过程。在这项工作中，PI将继续研究他们的发现，即元素铯催化未石墨化的多孔碳和碳纤维转化为插层石墨和管状嵌套多面体结构。该提案的一个目标是通过对模型体系的动力学测量和电子结构计算来了解反应。第二个目标是将这一过程扩展到其他碱金属催化剂和其他形式的碳。建议采用超高真空研究和非原位技术相结合的方法；这些研究可能会提出碳有序化的其他途径。如果电子传输负责这种转变，用低能电子进行处理可能会提供类似的结构增强。近边X射线吸收光谱实验旨在为铯在结构中的位置提供所需的洞察力。将被研究的材料，纳米结构碳，在广泛的领域提供了潜在的应用。获得这种材料的低温路线将代表着一项具有重大潜在意义的重大成就。一种选择性的、可控的纳米管生产方法可能会使其广泛应用成为可能。

AbstractProposal Title: Cesium-Catalyzed Restructuring of Amorphous Nanoporous Carbon into Well-Ordered Fullerene-Like Nanodomains: A Soft Chemical Transition of a Solid from Disorder to OrderProposal Number: CTS-0074649Principal Investigator: Henry FoleyInstitution: Pennsylvania State University The goal of this proposal is to investigate a low temperature process for converting amorphous carbons into more ordered structures. In this work the PIs will continue the investigation of their discovery that elemental cesium catalyzes the conversion of non-graphitizing porous carbon and carbon fibers to forms such as intercalated graphite and tubular, nested polyhedral structures. One objective of the proposal is to understand the reaction through kinetic measurements and electronic structure calculations on model systems. A second objective is to extend this process to other alkali metal catalysts and other forms of carbon. A combination of ultra high vacuum studies and ex situ techniques is proposed; these studies may suggest other routes to carbon ordering. If electron transport is responsible for the transformation, processing with low-energy electrons may provide a similar structural enhancement. The near-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments are intended to provide the needed insights into the siting of cesium in the structures. The materials to be studied, nanostructured carbons, offer potential applications in a wide range of areas. A low temperature route to such materials would represent a major accomplishment of great potential significance. A selective, controllable route to produce nanotubes might make their widespread application feasible.