Capacitors and catalyst supports based on pyrolytic carbon deposited on metals/metal oxides derived from hydrotalcite-like materials

The formation of carbon deposits by the pyrolysis of acetonitrile at 600 and 700 degrees C with the assistance of metals/metal oxides generated in situ from MgCuAl and MgFeAl hydrotalcite-like materials (HTs) is described. The effects of the chemical composition of the supports on the quantity of carbon deposits and their structural ordering, morphology, nitrogen doping, porosity and capacitive properties, as well as their function as catalyst supports, were investigated. Among obtained pyrolytic carbons, that built of platelet-shaped carbon particles (formed at 600 degrees C with the use of MgCuAl HTs) appeared to be the most effective for charge storage (150 F g-1) as it contained mainly micropores (62%) and slit-shaped mesopores favouring the charge storage in deep parts of the carbon particles. It was revealed that the pyrolytic carbon exhibiting plate-like morphology with high exposure of edge plane surfaces and high specific surface area (1121 m2 g-1) provides the highest dispersion of 12-tungstophosphoric acid (HPW) and as a consequence leads to the highest yield (85%) to the main product (cis-2-butene) of n-butanol conversion achieved for HPW loaded on it.