| Recently, many research groups have consciously increased efforts to design and develop advanced materials with nanometric dimensions. The motivation comes from the fact that the physical and chemical properties of the nanoscopic substances can differ considerably from the properties exhibited by the same materials in the bulk. Ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC), one of the carbon nanomaterial types, has been receiving much attention because of its unique properties. OMC is a carbon nanomaterial with extremely well-ordered pore structure, tunable pore diameters in the mesopore range, high specific surface area, high specific pore volume, high thermal and mechanical stabilities, low electron-transfer resistance, large adsorption capacities, and chemical inertness. In order to enhance its suitability for different applications, the heteroatom doping was adopted. The heteroatom doping could change the electronic properties of carbons and produce additional functional groups on the carbon surface, and this greatly enhance the electrochemical performance of OMC. On the other hand, platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) are still indispensable and the most effective electrocatalysts. It was found that carbon material supports increase the electrocatalytic activity of Pt NPs. Based on the previous studies, we have investigated the electrochemical properties of boron-doped ordered mesoporous carbon (BOMC) as electrocatalyst and as Pt catalyst support.In chapter two, the electrocatalytic activity of BOMC towards six electroactive biomolecules (ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, hydrogen peroxide, and glucose), was investigated. BOMC was compared with ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) to find the improvement brought by boron doping. Its ability of loading active biomolecules was investigated by using glucose oxidase. Compared with OMC, BOMC exhibited increasing peak current, higher sensitivity and lower detection limits, towards electroactive biomolecules.Finally, in chapter three, we have examined the ability of BOMC of supporting Pt catalyst and the electrocalytic improvement brought by boron doping. Pt nanoparticles were supported on BOMC and the resultant Pt supported on BOMC (Pt-BOMC) was used as electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation reaction. The average diameter of Pt particles on Pt-BOMC was found to be2.62nm. The Pt-BOMC’s activity in the electrocatalysis of methanol oxidation reaction was found to be remarkably higher than that of Pt supported on OMC and that of commercial Pt-C catalyst. |
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