Exploring Carbon Surface Using Electron Microscopy: Applications to Energy, Environment, and Health

Abstract

Carbon-based nanomaterials are prepared and explored using electron microscopy for their various applications including H₂-storage, environmental remediation, plant growth, heterogeneous catalysis, and health. We prepare carbon nanofibers (CNFs) using highly porous micron size activated carbon fibers (ACFs) and activated carbon beads (ACBs) as a substrate. ACFs are impregnated with aqueous solutions of different metal salts depending upon the end use. The metal-impregnated ACFs are subjected to calcination and H₂-reduction. The phenolic resin beads are synthesized using suspension polymerization. ACBs are synthesized by carbonization of the phenolic beads, followed by steam activation. CNFs are grown over ACFs and ACBs using catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The micropores containing ACFs/ACBs show high adsorption capacity for several aqueous pollutants. In the multiroles, the CNFs can act as a catalyst, augment exposure of the dispersed metal NPs, and efficiently support the dendritic-like polymeric structure. The metal NPs included in ACFs/CNFs serve as a catalyst for micronutrients, antibacterial agent, and dissociation of heteroatoms.