Surface and electrochemical investigations of a fullerene soot

A study of the surface and electrochemical properties of a fullerene soot s ubmitted to several types of heat treatment was conducted. The surface char acteristics were investigated for the chemical properties using FTIR and fo r the specific area using BET. The electrochemical properties were investig ated employing the thin porous coating electrode technique, in the presence and absence of dispersed platinum particles. In each case the responses we re compared taking as reference the Vulcan XC-72 carbon powder, frequently considered as electrochemical substrates for dispersed electrocatalysts. It is observed that the fullerene soot presents a higher level of oxygenated surface groups, lower conductivity, but larger surface area and high charge storage capacity than the Vulcan XC-72 and Shawinigan carbons. Values of a ctive surface area of dispersed platinum particles close to that on Vulcan are obtained when fullerene soot is employed as catalyst substrate. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.