Structural alteration of carbon nanoparticle and carbon nanoparticles carrying Pt clusters

Alterations of carbon particles carrying Pt clusters were studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Carbon particles of size 20-30 nm produced in a He gas atmosphere by the conventional arc-discharge method changed into carbon tubes or ribbon-like spherules based on an onion-like structure by heating in air at 300 °C. In the case of carbon particles carrying Pt clusters, the alteration of carbon particles took place gradually at 300 °C, and the Pt clusters become partially exposed to the air as they were no longer covered by the carbon layer. The generation of electricity by using Pt clusters in fuel cell is proposed as an application for the Pt clusters.