Paper AS+AC-TuM5
Atom Probe Tomography and Electron Microscopy Investigation of Composition and Structure of Functionalized Carbon

Tuesday, November 8, 2016, 9:20 am, Room 101B

Carbon is one of the most studied materials due to its broad range of properties, versatility, and low cost. Functionalization or doping of carbon with heteroatoms is an effective way to tailor the properties of carbon and further modify the material for various applications. While significant efforts have been placed on understanding the composition, structure and properties of doped carbon supports, there is a lack of understanding regarding the 3-D distribution of dopant within high surface area materials. In this work, we expand the understanding of nitrogen-functionalized carbon materials by focusing on analysis of nitrogen distribution through atom probe tomography (APT), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and complementary characterization techniques. Specifically, APT analysis has been applied to provide unique, high-resolution insight into the composition/structure of high-surface area carbon – demonstrating feasibility of the technique towards such materials. Nitrogen-doped carbon nanospheres were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of resorcinol, formaldehyde, and ethylenediamine, followed by pyrolyzation under flowing nitrogen, producing materials with different nitrogen concentration and varied relative distribution of nitrogen functionalities. Sample preparation was performed via focused-ion beam (FIB), in order to isolate C spheres into a workable APT tip. The work presented herein provides a foundation not only for further understanding of N-doped carbon materials and N-containing nonprecious catalysts (NPMCs) employed in a variety of important catalytic reactions, but also to prepare model high-surface area materials, compatible for study via in situ liquid and electrochemistry TEM techniques.