Preparation of N-doped Hollow Carbon Spheres and Investigation of Their Optical Properties

doi:10.15541/jim20150648

Abstract

Abstract:

N-doped hollow carbon spheres (NDHCSs) were prepared by DC arc discharge at 800℃ in nitrogen, using anode prepared by the filling method. The morphology, structure, chemical and phase compositions, and optical properties of the product deposited on the stainless steel sheet were characterized by using FESEM, HRTEM, EDX, EELS, XRD, and UV-Vis, respectively. The results show that the outer diameters of the NDHCSs are in the range of 110-543 nm and their wall thicknesses are in the range of 2-12 nm. The walls consist of two parts, namely, the inner part and the outside part, which are comparatively complete structure of graphite and discontinuously wave-like structure of layer, respectively. The NDHCSs consist of C, N and O elements with comparatively uniform distribution. The phase composition of NDHCSs mainly includes graphitic carbon and another carbon phase. The UV-Vis spectra of the suspensions of the NDHCSs in ethanol show three absorption peaks at 210 nm, 221 nm and 264 nm. Such suspension emits green luminescence under UV light irradiation and can keep stable at least for two months. The NDHCSs may have potential application in the field of optics.

Key words: arc discharge, N-doped, hollow carbon spheres, optical properties, mechanism of formation

CLC Number:

O613
TB321

HU Feng-Xiang, LI Ling, LIN Kui, CUI Lan, SHI Cai-Jing, SAYYAR Ali Shah, CUI Shen. Preparation of N-doped Hollow Carbon Spheres and Investigation of Their Optical Properties[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2016, 31(8): 827-833.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 FESEM images of the product deposited on the stainless steel sheet

Fig. 2 HRTEM image and EELS Spectrum of the deposit(a) HRTEM image of the deposit at low magnification; (b) Image of the morphology corresponding to the EELS measurement; (c) EELS spectrum of the small area pointed by the arrow in (b) (the inset shouing the magnification of the N-K edge)

Fig. 3 HRTEM image of approximately spherical hollow sphere (a) and the walls pointed by the arrows 1 and 2 in (a), (b), and (c), respectively (inset showing HRTEM image of its surrounding area at low magnification)

Fig. 4 (a) HRTEM image of the deposit in the suspension set for one week after ultrasonication and (b) EDX spectrum corresponding to the small area pointed by the arrow in (a)

Fig. 5 (a) HRTEM image of the hollow and approximately spherical object and (b-d) EELS element mapping images of C, N and O, respectively

Fig. 6 XRD pattern of the product deposited on the stainless steel sheet

Fig. 7 UV-Vis spectra of the samples(a) The supernatant formed after suspension being set for two months after the first ultrasonication; (b) The suspension formed after the second ultrasonication; (c-d) Digital photos for of the suspension corresponding to (b) for photoluminescent test

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