Preparation of graphitic carbon with high surface area and its application as an electrode material for fuel cells

Abstract

Nanostructured graphitic carbon materials have wide applications. However, the synthesis of such materials with a high surface area is still a great challenge. In this study, graphitic carbon nanocages with a surface area as high as 400–800 m² g⁻¹ were synthesized by pyrolysis of ethanol with dissolved iron carbonyl. This graphitic carbon was successfully applied as an electrode material for proton exchange membrane fuel cells and showed 40% improvement in fuel cell performance from amorphous carbon. The present method could be applied to large-scale production of graphitic carbon with a high surface area and would be practically relevant for fuel cell and many other technologies.