Synthesis of Metal–Carbon Composites with Transition Metal Nanoparticles Distributed as Metal Core–Graphite-Like Shell Structures in the Bulk of an Amorphous Carbon Matrix

Abstract

A method for the synthesis of metal–carbon nanocomposites in which metal-centered particles of the core–graphite-like shell type are distributed in the bulk of an amorphous sp²-carbon matrix is proposed. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was used as a carbon matrix precursor. The synthesis procedure included the following stages: The dehydrochlorination of PVC with diethylamine in a dimethyl sulfoxide solution in the presence of Co, Ni, Fe, or Cu nitrates; the carbonization of the product at 400°C; metal reduction with hydrogen at 500–620°C; and methane conversion at 620–850°C. The metal concentrations in the resulting composites were the following (%): Fe, 10; Ni, 10.8; Co, 11; and Cu, 21. The structure of the final metal–carbon nanocomposites was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The size of a metal core was 20–100 nm, and the number of graphene layers in a shell was to 50.