One-step synthesis of spontaneously graphitized nanocarbon using cobalt-nanoparticles

Amorphous carbon (a-C) films containing metallic Cobalt nanoparticles (Co NPs) were deposited onto microgrids and SiO2/Si substrates by a magnetron sputter-deposition technique at room temperature (RT) using aC target with an attachment of a small Co platelet. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with a fast Fourier-transform (FFT) revealed the short-range ordering of the lattice corresponding to graphite (002) between Co NPs in the amorphous C matrix. The 2D peak and graphite (002) peak were clearly observed in Raman spectra and x-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively, for the Co–C films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses were used to determine the metallic state of Co NPs and sp2 graphitization in the film. Thus, the Co NPs exhibited higher catalytic activity in spontaneous graphitization at low-temperature than Ni-NPs prepared under the same conditions. So, the metallic NPs were concluded to be promising as the catalyst for the ultra-low temperature graphitization in the solid-phase reaction.