What are CNO and Endofullerenes?

Endohedral Fullerenes (@Cn) are novel nanomaterials that contain atomic elements and complex chemical compounds encased within fullerene carbon cages. Endofullerenes can be used across a wide range of advanced applications in energy storage, photovoltaic cells, medical diagnostics, cancer treatment, nanoelectronics, and other cutting-edge nanotechnologies. 

Carbon Nano Onions (CNO) are an exciting new class of carbonaceous  nanostructures that feature quasi-concentric graphitic shells surrounding fullerene molecular structures. Advanced Nanomaterials has been able to produce CNO molecules that are up to 400nm in diameter (as per the SEM microscopy photo). These are unique as they contain upwards of 1 million carbon atoms tightly packed into the stable nanostructure.

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Applications of CNO and EF Nanotechnology

Hydrogen Catalysis

Carbon Nano-Onions (CNOs) offer a versatile platform for hydrogen catalysis due to their unique structural and electronic properties. By tailoring their surface chemistry and combining them with other materials, they can be optimised for specific catalytic applications in hydrogen production, storage, and utilisation.

 1.  Catalyst Support

   -  High Surface Area: CNOs have a high surface area, which makes them excellent supports for catalytic nanoparticles (e.g., platinum, palladium, or nickel). The large surface area allows for a high dispersion of active catalytic sites.

   - Stability: CNOs are chemically and thermally stable, making them suitable for harsh reaction conditions often encountered in hydrogen catalysis.

 2. Electrocatalysis

   - Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER): CNOs can be functionalised or doped with heteroatoms (e.g., nitrogen, sulphur) to enhance their electrocatalytic activity for HER, a key reaction in water splitting for hydrogen production.

   - High Conductivity: Excellent electrical conductivity facilitates electron transfer during electrocatalytic processes.

 3. Photocatalysis

   - Doping: Doping CNOs with elements like nitrogen or boron can create active sites for photocatalytic hydrogen generation.

 4. Functionalisation

   - Surface Modification: CNOs can be functionalized with chemical groups (e.g., carboxyl, amine) to improve their interaction with catalytic nanoparticles or reactants.

   - Doping with Metals: Incorporating transition metals into CNOs can create active sites for hydrogenation or dehydrogenation reactions.

 5. Hydrogen Storage

   - Spillover Effect: CNOs can act as a medium for hydrogen spillover, where hydrogen atoms dissociate on a metal catalyst and migrate to the CNO surface, potentially improving hydrogen storage capacity.

Energy Storage - Solid State Supercapacitor

Carbon Nano-Onions offer a versatile platform for supercapacitor applications due to their high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and structural stability. By tailoring their surface chemistry and combining them with other materials, CNOs can be optimised for high-performance supercapacitors with enhanced capacitance, energy density, and cycle life. 

1. High Surface Area

   - Enhanced Charge Storage: CNOs have a high surface area, which provides ample sites for charge storage, leading to higher capacitance.

   - Porosity: The nanostructured surface of CNOs can facilitate ion adsorption and desorption, crucial for double-layer capacitance.

 2. Electrical Conductivity

   - Efficient Charge Transfer: CNOs exhibit excellent electrical conductivity, which is essential for minimizing energy loss and improving the power density of supercapacitors.

   - Low Resistivity: The low resistivity of CNOs ensures efficient electron transport within the electrode material.

 3. Structural Stability

   - Mechanical Robustness: CNOs are mechanically robust, which helps maintain structural integrity during repeated charge-discharge cycles.

   - Chemical Stability: Their chemical stability ensures long-term performance without significant degradation.

 4. Functionalization and Doping

   - Surface Modification: Functionalising CNOs with chemical groups (e.g., carboxyl, hydroxyl) can enhance their wettability and interaction with electrolytes, improving overall performance.

   - Heteroatom Doping: Doping CNOs with heteroatoms like nitrogen or boron can introduce pseudocapacitive properties, further enhancing capacitance.

 5. Composite Materials

   - Hybrid Electrodes: Combining CNOs with other carbon materials (e.g., graphene, carbon nanotubes) or conductive polymers can create synergistic effects, improving both capacitance and conductivity.

   - Metal Oxide Composites: Incorporating metal oxides (e.g., MnO₂, RuO₂) with CNOs can introduce redox reactions, adding pseudocapacitance to the system.

 6. Electrolyte Compatibility

   - Versatility: CNOs can be used with various electrolytes, including aqueous, organic, and ionic liquid electrolytes, making them versatile for different supercapacitor designs.

   - Ion Transport: The nanostructured surface of CNOs facilitates efficient ion transport, which is crucial for high-rate performance.

 7. Flexible Supercapacitors

   - Flexibility: CNOs can be incorporated into flexible and stretchable supercapacitors, which are useful for wearable electronics and flexible energy storage devices.

   - Binder-Free Electrodes: CNOs can be used to create binder-free electrodes, simplifying the manufacturing process and improving performance.