Synthesis of graphitic carbon nanostructures from sawdust and their application as electrocatalyst supports

We present a novel and facile synthetic method for fabricating graphitic carbon nanostructures (GCNs) from sawdust. This method is based on the use of catalysts (Fe or Ni) that allows the direct conversion of sawdust into highly graphitized carbon material. The following procedure was used to obtain these graphitic nanoparticles: (a) impregnation of the sawdust particles with iron or nickel salts, (b) carbonization of the impregnated material at a temperature of 900 or 1000 degrees C, and (c) selective removal of the non-graphitized carbon (amorphous carbon) by an oxidant (KMnO4). The resulting carbon is made up of nanosized graphitic structures (i.e., nanocapsules, nanocoils, nanoribbons), which have a high crystallinity, as evidenced by TEM/SAED, XRD and Raman analysis. These GCNs were used as supports for platinum nanoparticles. Such prepared electrocatalysts show an electrocatalytical surface area close to 90 m(2).g(-1) Pt, and they present a similar or higher electrocatalytic activity toward methanol electrooxidation than the Pt/Vulcan electrocatalyst prepared in the same conditions.