Agglomerates of amorphous carbon nanoparticles synthesized by a solution-phase method

A novel solution-phase method is developed for preparation of agglomerates of amorphous carbon nanoparticles under ambient atmosphere by the reaction of ferrocene and ammonium chloride in diglycol at 200 °C. Samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. It is found that the nanoparticles are complete amorphous and agglomerate together due to the strong surface tension. The agglomerates of amorphous carbon nanoparticles with a diameter of 20–50 nm have a wide size distribution of mesopores with a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 75.2 m2 g− 1. It is proposed that the dissolved reactants uniformly dispersing in the solutions could react at a molecular level to form uniform carbon nanoparticles.

► A novel solution-phase method is developed.
► Synthesis under ambient atmosphere and oxygen is a reactant.
► The temperature is only 200 °C.