This project involves preparation of porous carbon monolithic materials for use in electrochemical biosensors and as platforms for fuel-cell electrodes. Porous carbon supports with hierarchical porosity in the mesoscale (2 –50 nm) and macroscale (>50 nm) regimes offer a distinctive platform for fuel cell electrodes. The high surface area provided by tailored mesopores would provide an ideal support for the electrocatalyst and allow for the rapid mass transfer of fuels, water and oxygen through the larger macropores. In addition, development of microchannel (porous) electrode configuration for use as an electrode for an electrochemical based biosensor would have several advantages. These include a higher reactive area compared to the same area without pores, a conductive framework for electrochemical detection, and compatibility with flow processing. Porous glassy carbon monolithic structures were prepared from porous silica monolith templates which were originally developed for use as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) stationary phases. A glassy carbon precursor material, furfuryl alcohol, was used to fill the pores, and various treatment regimes of the silica template surface were developed to modify the final porosity of the carbon monolith. Application of this template method to control porosity would be beneficial for future developments of a sensitive and fast electrochemical biosensor as well as a unique platform for a fuel cell electrode.
Back to Materials Chemistry (General Session)
Back to The 56th Southeast Regional Meeting 2004 (November 10-13, 2004)