Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanospheres obtained by microwave radiation

Carbon microparticles mixed with 10 wt.% zinc oxide microparticles were irradiated with microwaves in a vacuum. Characterization was made by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The micrographs showed that a morphological transformation occurred with the formation of carbon structures in the shape of micrometric spheres. High resolution transmission electron microscopy showed that for a reaction time of 3.5 min, carbon nanospheres were obtained with an average diameter less than 35 nm with zinc oxide nanoparticles of 4 nm diameter inside them.