| AVS 62nd International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Applied Surface Science | Monday Sessions |
| Session AS-MoA |
| Session: | Practical Surface Analysis I: Interpretation Challenges |
| Presenter: | Svitlana Pylypenko, Colorado School of Mines |
| Authors: | S. Pylypenko, Colorado School of Mines K.N. Wood, Colorado School of Mines A.A. Dameron, National Renewable Energy Laboratory R. O'Hayre, Colorado School of Mines |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
While significant efforts has been placed on understanding the role of nitrogen in real, application based environments utilizing high surface area carbon supports, a lack of knowledge exists in understanding the specific functionalities and their role in improving performance. In this work we expand the understanding of nitrogen functionalized high surface area carbon supports by focusing on the careful analysis of the distribution of nitrogen functionalities through XPS and other complementary techniques, such as Raman and NEXAF spectroscopies. Functionalization of several high-surface carbons was performed using nitrogen ion implantation using a variety of ion implantation parameters. The results contained herein show that increasing implantation time only marginally elevates nitrogen concentration, forming mostly single defect structures. Increasing the beam current results in formation of more complex defect structures containing clustered multi-nitrogen defects, similar to those observed in carbon nitride materials. We also show that higher nitrogen dosage levels create a more homogeneous distribution of nitrogen functionalities, regardless of initial carbon material or the resulting nitrogen concentration.