Green Production of Carbon Nanomaterials in Molten Salts and Applications ||

This book focuses on the possible interactions that might occur between carbon materials and molten salts, and discusses the mechanisms involved in detail, highlighting possible future developments in the field. Carbon materials can be exposed to molten salts in various technologically important applications, such as in molten salt-nuclear reactors and aluminum production electrolysis cells. As such, numerous studies have investigated the possible interactions between carbon and molten salts. In addition, various interesting carbon nanostructures have recently been produced in molten salts, including carbon nanotubes, graphene and nanodiamonds with a number of attractive applications. With abundant images and graphs supporting the discussion, this book appeals to researchers working in the field of carbon nanostructures, carbon capture and conversion, nuclear reactors, energy storage, molten salts and related areas of science and technology. Preface 5 Contents 7 1 Introduction 10 References 12 2 Production of Advanced Materials in Molten Salts 14 2.1 Inert Molten Salt Synthesis Methods of Carbon Nanostructures 15 2.2 Reactive Molten Salt Synthesis of Carbon Nanostructures 17 2.2.1 Interactions Between Molten Salts and Solid Carbonaceous Materials 17 2.2.2 Capture and Conversion of CO2 in Molten Salts 18 2.2.3 Molten Salt Reduction of Graphene Oxides 20 2.3 Electrochemical Exfoliation of Graphite 22 References 24 3 Interaction of Molten Salts with Graphite 28 3.1 Thermal Analysis of Pristine Graphite Powder 29 3.2 Thermal Analysis of Lithium Chloride 31 3.3 Thermal Analysis of the Graphite–LiCl Mixture 32 3.4 X-Ray Diffraction and Raman Spectroscopy Studies 35 3.5 Effect of Molten Salts on the Graphitization Degree of Carbon Materials 37 3.6 Effect of Molten LiCl on the Microstructure of Graphite 38 References 44 4 Cathodic Exfoliation of Graphite in Molten Salt Electrolytes 46 4.1 Molten Salt Production of Carbon Nanotubes 47 4.2 Production of Graphene in Molten LiCl 52 4.3 Production of Graphene in Molten NaCl 55 4.4 Molten Salt Preparation of Metal-Filled Carbon Nanostructures 57 4.5 Molten Salt Preparation of Interconnected Graphene—Carbon Nanoscrolls 60 4.6 Molten Salt Conversion of CO2 into Li2CO3 Nanocrystals 63 4.7 Encapsulation of Li2CO3 Nanocrystals in Carbon Layers 65 References 66 5 Mechanisms Involved in the Electrolytic Fabrication of Carbon Nanostructures 70 5.1 Electrochemical Erosion of Graphite Under Nominally Dry Ar 70 5.2 Thermokinetic Characteristics of LiCl 73 5.3 Electrochemical Erosion of Graphite Under Humid Ar 76 5.4 Electrochemical Erosion of Graphite Under Hydrogen-Containing Atmospheres 79 5.5 Molten Salt Formation of Metal-Filled Carbon Nanostructures 80 References 82 6 Applications of Carbon Nanostructures Produced in Molten Salts 84 6.1 SnO2-Graphene Anode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries 84 6.2 Metal–Carbon Nanocomposites as Anode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries 87 6.2.1 Sn-Filled Carbon Nanostructures 88 6.2.2 Graphene-Wrapped Si Nanostructures 89 6.3 Supercapacitors 92 6.4 Ceramic-Based Composites 92 6.5 Adsorption 96 6.5.1 Adsorption Performance of the Molten Salt-Produced 3D Graphene Nanosheets 103 6.5.2 The Effect of pH on the Adsorption Capacity 107 6.5.3 Reusability and Stability of 3D Graphene Nanosheets 108 References 112 7 Molten Salt Conversion of Plastics into Highly Conductive Carbon Nanostructures 118 7.1 Structural Characterization of PET 119 7.2 Carbonization of PET 121 7.3 Conversion of PET into Carbonaceous Nanomaterials 125 7.4 Molten Salt-Assisted Conversion of PET into Carbon Nanomaterials 129 7.4.1 Molten Salt Heat Treatment of PET 129 7.5 Electrical and Electrochemical Characterization of Nanostructured Carbon Materials 135 7.6 Molten Salt Graphitization of Amorphous Carbons 138 References 144 8 Molten Salt-Assisted Preparation of Nanodiamonds at Atmospheric Pressure 150 8.1 Transformation of Graphite into Diamond 152 8.2 Conversion of Carbon Nanostructures into Nanodiamonds 153 8.3 Conversion of CO2 into Diamond Nanocrystals 160 References 166