Growth of carbon nanospheres through a building block assembly method at 300 °C

Carbon nanospheres (CNSs) with the diameters of 50–250 nm were synthesized through a one-step solvothermal method at about 300 °C. In this process, benzene and hexachloroethane (C2Cl6) served as carbon source for the CNSs. The results showed that the CNSs were composed of a mixture of graphitic nanocrystallites and amorphous carbon. It is believed that they formed through intermolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation and dehydrogenation reactions in the presence of anhydrous aluminum chloride (AlCl3). The mechanism of carbonization and the effect of Al particles on the morphology of carbon products are discussed.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► Benzene and C2Cl4 are building blocks to assemble into 2-D carbon structure. ► Friedel–Crafts alkylation takes place when benzene rings connect to Cl atoms. ► Dehydrogenation reaction takes place when benzene rings connect to each other.