Cogent NanoMaterials has applied the proprietary, patented Ionic Gasification technology developed by its sister company Cogent Energy Systems to produce commercial carbon nano-onions (CNOs), also known as multi-layer or multi-shell fullerenes. Cogent defines CNOs as “concentrically layered polyhedral graphitized carbon nanoparticles, generally forming a spherical shape”. Cogent has demonstrated the ability to produce CNOs ranging in a size range between 20-50 nm. High concentrations of these particles within the recovered material can easily be accomplished in multi-gram quantities using simple carbon black feedstock.
Cogent NanoMaterials can now provide the market with a new source of carbon nano-onions in quantities previously unavailable.
Carbon nano onions (CNOs) have attracted considerable interest in recent years due to their unique structures and properties. CNOs, composed of multi-layered concentric graphitic shells, have large specific surface areas.
These unique structures make CNOs suitable to specific applications.
- CNOs’ good electrical conductivity and large specific surface area make them applicable as electrode materials and supercapacitors.
- CNOs’ excellent biocompatibility makes them useful in biosensing and detection.
- CNOs also can be used in oxidative dehydrogenation and oxygen reduction catalytic systems.
- CNOs can be used to store and quickly release electrolyte ions in hydrogen storage materials.
- CNOs’ low friction, high stability and strong mechanical properties make them useful as solid lubricants.
Current methods for synthesis of CNOs have resulted in significant contaminants. Some of these methods include:
- Chemical vapor deposition (although this method generates contaminated particles encapsulated in carbon cages).
- Arc discharge between two graphite rods submerged in deionized water without metallic catalysts (this also includes a mixture of impurities, including amorphous carbon, graphite fragments, and carbon nanotubes).
- Thermal annealing of nano-diamonds (these too are contaminated with particles of the origination nano-diamonds)
- Detonation synthesis via liquid carbon condensation.
For more information, please contact us today using the form below: