Production of mesoporous fullerene (C60) with highly crystalline framework to deal with environment and energy problems

2014 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25790021
• Research Institution: National Institute for Materials Science
• Principal Investigator: SHRESTHA L.Kumar 独立行政法人物質・材料研究機構, その他部局等, その他 (90588922)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: Mesoporous fullerene

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Under this project, I was successful to produce fullerene C60 microcrystals from zero to higher dimensions including newer class of nanocarbon material called mesoporous fullerene crystals with crystalline frameworks. Solvent drying out (upon mild heat-treatment) from the solvated fullerene crystals is expected to play a key role in pore formation. Upon extremely high temperature heat-treatment, the fullerene crystals were converted into a new family of nanoporous carbons having π-electron conjugation within the sp2-carbon robust frameworks. These new nanoporous carbons show excellent electrochemical capacitance and superior sensing properties for aromatic compounds compared to commercial activated carbons.
Mesoporous crystalline fullerene C60 exhibited higher surface area (100 to 300 m2/g depending on the system) compared to pristine C60 and displayed enhanced electrochemical supercapacitance. Nevertheless, due to poor conductivity of these crystals, the specific capacitance was found to be less than expected judging from the higher surface area.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Nanoporous Carbon Tubes from Fullerene Crystals as the pi-Electron Carbon Source (2015)
  • Author(s): Shrestha, L.K.*; Shrestha, R.G.; Yamauchi, Y.; Hill, J.P.; Nishimura, T.; Miyazawa, K.; Kawai, T.; Okada, S.; Wakabayashi, K.; Ariga, K.
  • Journal Title: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Volume: 54 Pages: 951-955
  • DOI: DOI: 10.1002/anie.201408856
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Demonstration of Ultra-Rapid Interfacial Formation of 1D Fullerene Nanorods with Photovoltaic Properties (2014)
  • Author(s): Shrestha, R.G.; Shrestha, L.K.*; Khan, A.H.; Kumar, G.S.; Acharya, S.*; Ariga, K.
  • Journal Title: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Volume: 6 Pages: 15597-15603
  • DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1021/am5046235
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Self-Assembled Fullerene Nanostructures at Liquid Interface (2014)
  • Author(s): Shrestha, L.K.*
  • Journal Title: Austin Journal of Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology Volume: 2 Pages: 1031-1032
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] Self-Assembled Fullerene Nanostructures: From zero to higher dimensions (2014)
  • Author(s): Shrestha, L.K.
  • Organizer: 1st Asian Congress on Oleo Science (ACOS-2014)
  • Place of Presentation: Sapporo, Japan
  • Year and Date: 2014-09-08 – 2014-09-10
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Self-Assembled Fullerene Nanostructures: From Zero to Higher Dimensions (2014)
  • Author(s): Shrestha, L.K.
  • Organizer: 15th IUMRS-International Conference in Asia (IUMRS-ICA 2014)
  • Place of Presentation: Fukuoka University, Japan
  • Year and Date: 2014-08-25 – 2014-08-30
  • Invited