A facile co-gelation route to synthesize FeCo/carbon nanocomposites and their application as magnetically separable adsorber

A new kind of magnetic porous FeCo/carbon nanocomposites was successfully synthesized by using a facile co-gelation sol–gel route. The sol–gel process of this route started from an ethanol solution containing teraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), furfuryl alcohol (FA), and metal nitrates. With the evaporation of solvent, the weak acidity produced from hydrolysis of metal nitrates simultaneously catalyzed the polymerization of FA and the hydrolysis of TEOS, which led to the inorganic/organic hybrid xerogel, accompanying metal salts spontaneously captured in the xerogel. The composites obtained have high surface areas, pore volumes and strong magnetic strengths, which make them exhibit excellent performance of adsorption for bulk dyes and easily separated from solution by external field after adsorption. Compared to the previous methods, this route is very simple and operable for the preparation of magnetic porous carbon composites. Such facile co-gelation route also provides a common path to the synthesis of nanoscale metal or alloy embedded in the porous carbon materials.

Graphical abstractThe sol–gel co-gelation process of this route simultaneously involves hydrolysis of teraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), and polymerization of furfuryl alcohol (FA) within an ethanol solution containing TEOS, FA, and metal nitrates.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ A facile co-gelation route was developed to synthesize magnetic porous FeCo/carbon composites. ▶Compared to the previous methods, this route is very simple and operable for magnetic composites. ▶Such facile route also provides a common path to the synthesis of metal or alloy/carbon materials.